What Does it Mean to be Morbidly Obese?
The term obese is often used interchangeably with morbidly obese, but these are two separate terms signifying different levels of weight over ordinary body weight. Many people fall into the obese category and weigh about 20% more than the ordinary body mass index (BMI) for their height. It doesn’t take a lot to be considered obese and in developed countries like the USA, a fairly large percentage of people are in this category.
To be morbidly obese means that person has a much higher body fat percentage and BMI might be anywhere from 35 to 40 and up. There are disputes on whether BMI of 35 or 40 is the beginning point of morbid obesity. A BMI of 40 is more typically cited as the BMI that indicates a person is morbidly obese.
What this really translates to in poundage is that people would weigh approximately 100 (45.36 kg) or more pounds above a normal weight for height and size. The average woman standing at approximately 5’10’’ (1.78 m) and weighing about 150 pounds (68.04 kg) has an average body mass index of 21.5. This is well within normal weight range. When that woman adds an additional 100 pounds and weighs 250 pounds (113. 4 kg) to her frame she has a BMI of 35.9, and may be considered morbidly obese by some authorities. Generally, shorter stature and the same amount of pounds translate to the more accepted BMI rating of over 40 for morbid obesity. A woman who is 5’5” and weighs 250 pounds has a BMI of 41.6, and would be considered by all authorities to be at serious health risk.
The reason morbid is attached to the term obesity is due to the risk factor for many different health conditions that may result in death, and can be caused when this much weight is on the frame. Morbid can be understood as things or elements that produce disease. When extra fat accumulates in the body it begins to have negative effects on a number of the organs and body systems. Some conditions for which morbid obesity are risk factors include cardiac disease, sleep apnea, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, stress incontinence, arthritis, and yeast infections. Depending on environment, those with morbid obesity may also bear a lifetime of shame over their condition, which can lead to social phobias/alienation, depression and/or panic disorders.
There are many ways to treat those diagnosed as morbidly obese. These include modifying diet and exercise to ultimately shed some weight, using medical interventions, such as drugs or surgeries, to reduce weight, or trying a variety of methods that are both home and doctor-based. Weight loss can be difficult to achieve in any context without strong support. It’s advised people work with skilled nutritionists, counselors or therapists, in addition to doctors, who will help during this process.
Written by Tricia Ellis-Christensen
