Morbid Obesity Complications

Some health officials consider the weight problem in the United States to be an epidemic. The consequences of being obese go far beyond physical appearance. Being overweight can contribute to a number of life-threatening illnesses, psychological problems and social issues. Morbid obesity increases the risk of all of these complications.

Definition

According to the American Obesity Association, a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 is considered obese. If a person has a BMI over 40, she is considered morbidly obese. Body mass index is a calculation of a person's percentage of body fat, estimated by her height and weight. Morbid obesity is an especially dangerous medical condition, with complications that can seriously degrade the person's health and even shorten her life expectancy.

Health Issues

Obesity directly cause some medical problems. Other issues are more common in obese people because they have similar risk factors and causes. All conditions that are caused by or related to morbid obesity are called co-morbidities. According the American Obesity Association, some of the most common complications include arthritis, cancer (of the breast, colon, renal cell and endometrium), heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, stroke and others.

Causes of Complications

Carrying around significant extra weight puts a lot of additional stress on your body systems. The heart has to work harder to pump blood and oxygen to all parts of the body, causing issues like high blood pressure. This extra weight can put stress on joints, causing arthritis. Morbid obesity often results in elevated blood glucose levels, which causes type 2 diabetes. Excess weight is also strongly connected to different types of cancers. One reason for this is that obesity can cause imbalances of hormones, like estrogen, which may also cause certain types of cancer.

Correlations

Some co-morbidities of obesity are caused by conditions that also cause obesity. These are considered complications of obesity. Obese people have a higher risk of heart disease because increased consumption of fatty foods that can cause obesity also cause heart disease. High cholesterol can also be caused by eating these types of food. Occurrences of mental disorders like anxiety and depression are also prevalent in obese people because of issues with self-confidence, body image and other concerns.

Prevention/Solution

The best way to prevent the complications of morbid obesity is to maintain a healthy weight. Generally, this is done by learning about the benefits of a nutritional diet and regular exercise. In some cases, obesity may be linked to a hormonal imbalance or disease. Scheduling regular physical examinations with your doctor can help increase the chances of catching any of these health problems early. In addition, young children should be educated about how to stay healthy and eat right.

References

• Health Effects of Obesity
• How Does Obesity Cause Ill Health?
• National Cancer Institute

Resources

• Prevent Obesity