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To some extent,
morbid obesity is
hereditary. Evidence
suggests that
genetic influences
can account for
roughly 33 percent
of a person's body
weight. We now know
that children with a
strong family
history of obesity
are much more likely
to struggle with
their weight as
adults.
Environmental
influences and
socioeconomic
factors also
increase a person's
risk of morbid
obesity. The
influence of
socioeconomic
factors is
particularly strong
in women; low-income
women with fewer
resources to devote
to diet and exercise
are twice as likely
to suffer from
morbid obesity as
women with a higher
socioeconomic
status. African
Americans and
Hispanic Americans
also appear to have
a higher risk of
developing morbid
obesity due to
cultural factors
that influence
dietary choices and
levels of physical
activity.
Health Risks of
Morbid Obesity
-
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
-
Gastroesophageal
Reflux Disease (GERD)
-
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
-
Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
-
Daytime Sleepiness
-
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
-
Diabetes (Type 2)
-
End
Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
-
Gallbladder
Disease
-
Gout
-
Heat Disorders
-
Hypertension
-
Impaired Immune
Response
-
Impaired
Respiratory Function
-
Infections
Following Wounds
-
Infertility
-
Liver Disease
-
Low Back Pain
-
Obstetric and
Gynecologic Complications
-
Pain from Morbid Obesity
-
Pancreatitis from Morbid Obesity
-
Sleep Apnea from Morbid Obesity
-
Stroke from Morbid Obesity
-
Urinary Stress Incontinence from Morbid Obesity
Gastric bypass
surgery and LAP-BAND
surgery are two
newer solutions to
the health crisis of
morbid obesity. Both
of these surgeries
involve decreasing
the size of the
stomach to allow for
fullness with less
food consumption.
While both
procedures carry
risks, they have
been shown to be
effective for many
in losing
significant amounts
weight and
maintaining that
weight loss.
Obesity is the
second leading cause
of preventable death
in the United
States, yet receives
very little research
funding.
Unfortunately,
obesity related
medical conditions
such as diabetes and
hypertension receive
much more funding
than morbid obesity
itself. Since
healthcare costs of
American adults with
obesity amount to
roughly $100 billion
each year, increased
research funding
would be a wise
investment.
According to the
American Obesity
Association, one in
three adults can be
considered obese.
Obesity is defined
as being 30 pounds
or more over the
ideal body weight
for your height or
having a Body Mass
Index of 30 or more.
In the United
States, nearly
300,000 people each
year die from
obesity-related
health problems.
Clearly, obesity is
a significant health
care issue for many
Americans. Everyone
needs a certain
amount of body fat
for stored energy,
heat insulation,
shock absorption,
and other functions.
As a rule, women
have more fat than
men. Doctors
generally agree that
men with more than
25 percent body fat
and women with more
than 30 percent body
fat are obese.
In scientific terms,
obesity occurs when
a person's calorie
intake exceeds the
amount of energy he
or she burns. What
causes this
imbalance between
consuming and
burning calories is
unclear. Evidence
suggests that
obesity often has
more than one cause.
Genetic,
environmental,
psychological, and
other factors all
may play a part
Treatment options
for obesity are
explored in depth in
other fact sheets.
The method of
treatment will
depend on how obese
a person is. Factors
such as an
individual's overall
health and
motivation to lose
weight are also
important
considerations.
Treatment may
include a
combination of diet,
exercise, and
behavior
modification. If
you have tried all
of these methods
mentioned and none
have worked,
gastrointestinal
surgery may be
recommended.
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