What is morbid obesity?
Morbid obesity is a condition where excessive amounts of fat are stored in the body. The BMI (Body mass index) of a morbidly obese person is more than 35.
BMI is broken down as follows:
- Normal: 19.0–24.9
- Overweight: 25.0–29.9
- Obese stage 1: 30.0–34.9
- Obese stage 2: 35.0–39.9
- Morbidly obese stage 3: 40.0 or greater
The point to be noted here is that morbid obesity BMI is Greater than 35.
A person with a morbid obesity condition has a greater possibility of developing the following health conditions.
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Arthritis
- Some cancers
Some of the factors for morbid obesity are;
- Genetics: Study shows that people are more likely to become morbidly obese if they have a family history of morbid obesity
- Personal habits
Bad choices like unhealthy foods such as junk, fast foods, and lack of physical exercise can eventually lead to morbid obesity
- Mental Factors mental conditions such as stress and anxiety can make that person put on more weight and thus producing more stress hormone Cortisol and thus leading to storage of fat over the body and eventually weight gain
- Sleep habits morbid obesity can be caused by a lack of quality sleep.
- Some medical problems such as Cushing’s syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome. can lead to morbid obesity
- Some medications
Antidepressants can also cause weight gain and other medications such as beta-blockers can lead to weight gain and eventually a person can be morbidly obese.
- Aging: as we age, the metabolism slows can sedentary lifestyle is what makes people prone to weight gain.
Thus the above examples can help know what is morbid obesity.
The symptoms range from
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Excess fat storage in the body
- walking difficulties
- difficulty in breathing
List of Complications of morbid obesity
- Heart disease
- Abnormal blood lipid counts
- Type 2 diabetes
- Reproductive issues
- Osteoarthritis
- Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
- Stroke
- Sleep apnea
- Gallstones
- Certain cancers
- Metabolic syndrome
Complications of morbid obesity in detail
- Heart Disease and strokes
Being morbidly obese can lead to high blood pressure and elevated level of cholesterol in the body which are the risk factors for developing heart disease and strokes.
- Type 2 diabetes
Obesity can have a direct effect on how the body uses insulin to control blood sugar levels. This can lead to a rise in the risk for insulin resistance and eventually lead to diabetes.
- Certain kinds of cancers
Obesity may increase your risk of cancer of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovary, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and prostate.
- Digestive problems obesity can lead to heartburn, diseases of the gallbladder ad also problem with the liver.
- Gynecological and sexual problems morbid obesity can lead to infertility and irregular period s in women. it can also cause erectile dysfunction in males
- Severe COVID-19 symptoms. People who are morbidly obese risk developing severe symptoms of the coronavirus.
Treatment of morbid obesity
- Diet and Exercise
A healthy diet and physical exercise can benefit the overall health and weight. Even knowing about the stress management tools can be used in place of overeating and snacking during stressful times.
- Weight Loss Drugs
In some cases, a weight-loss drug or drugs can be prescribed by the doctor. This can cause that person to lose weight. Even though there are lots of over-the-counter supplements and herbal supplements but these claims are not yet verified.
- Surgery
Surgery can also help in losing vast amounts of body weight. It can help reduce the likelihood of getting other diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. These diseases are associated with obesity
- Gastric Banding Surgery
There are a lot of things and measure that can be taken to prevent morbid obesity
A person should look to eat:
- Fresh foods, non-processed fruits
- Green, leafy vegetables
- Limited amounts of sugar
- Reduced number of calories
- Smaller, more frequent meals
A person can do the following regularly for 30 minutes, up to five times a week:
- Walking
- Running
- Jogging
- Jumping rope
- Riding a bike
- Swimming
- Rowing
- Yoga or other fitness classes
Final thoughts
We just answered the question of what is morbid obesity. This is a medical condition in which the Body mass index (BMI) is over 35 points. This condition is caused by various factors such as lack of exercise, unhealthy eating habits; it can also be caused by weight gain.
Complications of morbid obesity include the following; Heart Disease and strokes, Type 2 diabetes, certain kinds of cancer like uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovary, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate, Digestive problems, Gynecological and sexual problems, Severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Treatment of morbid obesity includes Diet and Exercise, Weight Loss Drugs, Surgery, Gastric Bypass Surgery, Gastric Banding Surgery
Prevention of this condition includes the inclusion of fresh Foods, non-processed fruits, Green leafy vegetables, Limited amounts of sugar, Reduced number of calories, Smaller, more frequent meals.
And exercise listed below can do wonders for preventing this deadly medical condition. such as Walking, Running, Jogging, Jumping rope, Riding a bike, Swimming, Rowing, Yoga or other fitness classes
Hence, a change in the diet and switching to healthy whole foods such as fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly can help prevent and even treat this medical condition which is engulfing the western world and even in other countries.
too much alcohol consumption can also lead to morbid obesity. to know more click here
Nowadays many people are becoming overweight and eventually becoming obese. So this can have lots of bad negative health consequences as discussed above. People of all races, caste, and creed can fall victim to this dangerous medical condition and then can experience life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
to know more about obesity follow this link.
After all, health is the greatest wealth in a person’s overall life. If their health is good, everything will fall into place.
