The prevalence of obesity has nearly doubled between 1980 and 2008. Once only associated with developed and high income countries, it is now common even in mid-and low-income, developing and under-developed countries, too. The consequences of being overweight or obese are linked to more deaths worldwide than being underweight or malnourished.

The World Health Organisation has defined overweight as a BMI equal to or more than 25, and obesity as a BMI equal to or more than 30. In extreme cases where the BMI is more than 40, it is defined as ‘Morbid obesity’.

If you are morbidly obese, it means that you are severely overweight, usually by at least 40 to 50 kg. It also means that you have excessive (50 – 100%) of body fat compared to your ideal body weight. It is a serious health condition with serious medical consequences that can interfere with basic physical functions and is associated with an increased risk for illnesses including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, digestive disorders, osteoarthritis, depression, and cancer.

Studies have shown that, over a certain body mass index (BMI), a person’s risk of death (morbidity) increases according to their degree of obesity. In other words, the more overweight a person is, the more likely it is that his or her lifespan will be shorter. At least 2.8 million people each year die as a result of being overweight or obese.

The late Dr. Ernst Drenick conducted a study on 200 morbidly obese men between the ages 23 and 70 with an average weight of 143.5 kg through the VA hospital system over a seven year period. He published his findings in an article entitled “Excessive Mortality and Causes of Death in Morbidly Obese Men” in the year 1980. According to the results of the study the mortality risk among the obese compared to that of men in the general population, was a staggering 12 times higher in the age group 25 – 34 years and a 6-fold excess in the age group 35 – 44 years. In most of these cases cardiovascular diseases were reported to be the cause of the deaths.

Morbid obesity is a chronic disease, meaning that its symptoms build slowly over an extended period of time. The underlying causes of it are not entirely known and there are many factors that contribute to its development such as:
• Excessive caloric intake and lack of physical activity
Ingestion of more calories than the amount burned is the most basic and primary reason for weight gain. These extra calories are stored in the body as fat and over time it gradually leads to obesity and even to morbid obesity. Lack of exercise and physical activity also lowers the metabolic rate which leads to more weight gain.
• Genetics
Genes play an important role in certain conditions such as the tendency to gain weight. Just as some genes determine our hair or skin, there are other genes that affect our appetite, internally set points of weight, eating habits, our metabolism, our fat-storing ability, and even our natural activity levels.
• Environment
If you have a genetic predisposition toward obesity, then the modern sedentary lifestyle and easy access to excessive unhealthy high calorie foods can lead to more weight gain. In case of morbid obesity a change of environment is required to reduce or even maintain weight.
• Medical conditions
Thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism and certain eating disorders if ignored can cause morbid obesity. In such cases the root cause of these conditions must be treated to cure morbid obesity.
• Psychological factors
Research has shown that many people eat in response to their emotions like anger, boredom and sadness. This leads to uncontrolled and excessive eating leading to obvious weight gain.

Losing weight with exercise and a controlled diet is the most conventional and obvious solution for morbid obesity. But in patients where these solutions have failed to work, research has shown that weight-loss (Bariatric) surgery is the most effective and successful method of long-term weight loss.

In 1997 a study by the East Carolina University evaluated 232 morbidly obese diabetic patients who volunteered as candidates for surgical treatment. 154 of these patients had undergone gastric bypass surgery and the remaining 78 did not have the surgery due to various reasons. During the 6 – 9-year follow up interval it was found that the annual mortality rate in the group that did not have surgery was 5 times higher than the group that underwent the surgery. In fact, 28% of the non-surgical group died during this time versus only 9% of the surgically treated patients.

Consult a bariatric surgeon to decide if this is the best option for your condition. In the hands of an experienced surgeon, you can effectively reduce the risks obesity causes to your health and longevity.