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Define Morbid Obesity

A person is considered morbidly obese when she is 100 lb. over her ideal body weight or has a body mass index (BMI) above 40. According to the Obesity Action Coalition, there are over nine million morbidly obese Americans.

  1. Determination

    • Morbid obesity is determined by BMI. BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by his height in meters squared.

    Waist Circumference

    • Another method of determining morbid obesity is by measuring a person's waist circumference. A measurement of more than 35 inches for women and more than 40 inches for men is considered unhealthy.

    Considerations

    • A person with a BMI of more than 35 who also has a co-morbid medical condition is also considered morbidly obese.

    Associated Medical Conditions

    • Medical conditions often associated with morbid obesity are diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, heart disease and stroke, breast and colon cancer, osteoarthritis and depression.

    Causes

    • Factors that may contribute to a person becoming morbidly obese include genetics, unhealthy diet and lack of exercise. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism also play a role.

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