Morbid Obesity BMI Implies Major Health Hazards

Morbid obesity is considered a chronic disease which is quite complex, as there are several factors which lead to it. The components involved are social and cultural environment, genetic background, physiology, metabolism and psychological problems.

Obesity is defined on the Body Mass Index , known as the BMI. If the BMI is 30 it is considered to be the definition for obesity. The morbid obesity BMI is defined at 40 or more. The calculation of the BMI is done by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height squared in meters. But BMI does not include body frame size or muscle mass in its calculation.

Morbid obesity occurs when the body weight is greater by 20 % than your Ideal Weight. If patients gain an excess of 100 or more pounds, and have a high morbid obesity BMI, it becomes difficult for them to lose weight by non-surgical means. Some still achieve weight-loss through diet and exercise, but it is generally short-lived and with the result, there is the danger of gaining even more weight.

Ideal Weight

The ideal weight of each individual is based on his height. The morbid obesity BMI refers to a person’s relative weight for height. BMI assesses overweight and obesity and also measures change and body weight. There is a direct connection between BMI and total body fat, because the BMI calculation is weight divided by height.

BMI Calculations

If your weight is normal and you are healthy, your BMI will be between 18.6 and 24.9. If your BMI increases a little bit and is between 25 to 29.9, you will be considered overweight. Obesity begins with a BMI of 30 ranging up to 34.9, and up to 39.9 the condition of your body is severe obesity. Morbid obesity BMI is over 40. Super morbid obesity implies a BMI between 50 and 60.

Long Term Risk

The rate of extreme morbid obesity is growing extremely fast. Having a BMI of over 40 would mean that a person who is 5 feet 4 inches tall has a weight of 235 pounds, and a person who is 5 feet 10 inches tall is 280 pounds. Research shows that the rise in morbid obesity has emerged due to bad dietary habits and lack of exercise.

Today young working people have desk jobs, adults travel only by car in the urban areas, even children hardly use bikes or walk. Television viewing is the favorite pastime of millions of children and adults. A totally wrong diet consisting of relatively cheap calorie-dense foods is also one of the major factors that have contributed to the obesity epidemic.

It is therefore evident that exercising more and eating less will definitely help to control our weight. In the modern environment it is not easy to do it, but good health and longer life should be the motivation and commitment to making necessary lifestyle changes.

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