Morbid Obesity

Morbid obesity is a term used to describe the condition of a person with a BMI of over 40, which represents approximately twice the ideal weight for an individual.

Your body mass index is a calculation based on weight and height. To work out if you are morbidly obese, calculate your BMI, by taking your weight in kilos and dividing it by height your in centimetres and then dividing the answer by height again. (or use the BMI calculator).

What Can You Do About Morbid Obesity?

Morbid obesity is a shocking term and a frightening diagnosis. If you do fall into the category of morbidly obese, what can you do about it?

First of all, you need to consult your doctor. Morbid obesity puts you at very high risk of a number of serious illnesses and will severely restrict your mobility and ability to take part in many activities which someone of your age should be able to do with ease.

Being morbidly obese is not only restrictive when it comes to physical activity, it also has a profound effect on your self confidence and so is likely to affect your social life, relationships and career as well as your health.

If you are overweight and have noticed that you are continuing to gain weight, you probably feel that you'll never become morbidly obese, but don't fool yourself that you are just a little chubby. About 64% of the American adult population is overweight, ranging from slightly above healthy weight to morbid obesity, with around 400,000 Americans being super-massive, that is over 400 pounds.

The consequences of morbid obesity are potential life-threatening. In fact, any significant amount of excess weight can lead to complications and the more overweight the person, the greater the risk of developing one or more serious illnesses, which include heart disease, a number of cancers, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes.

Whilst prevention is preferable to treatment, there is still plenty that you can do to reverse the situation. The first step is to consult your doctor and have a thorough medical checkup to uncover any existing health problems and to assess your diet and fitness level.

Before making any change in your diet or exercise program, you should talk to your physician or other relevant medical expert, such as a dietician. It is important to avoid extremes, both in dieting and exercise, as these can have harmful results.

Holitistic Approaches for Treating Morbid Obesity

If you have food addictions and cravings, you should also consider looking at the psychological aspects of overeating. Your doctor may be able to recommend some form of therapy to address these, or you could consider alternative treatments, such as hypnosis to lose weight, which you can try today risk free, complete with a money back guarantee, acupuncture or EFT.

However, always discuss these with your doctor and if you do choose a holistic approach, be aware that "holistic" also includes paying attention to diet and exercise.

Next you should endeavour to get the support of friends and family. If, however, they are unsupportive, consider joining a local or online support group - losing weight means re-educating yourself and it's a lifelong process.

So don't try to do it all alone. Ultimately, you are responsible for the way in which you treat your body, but that doesn't mean you can't get help and encouragement. Morbid obesity doesn't have to be a death sentence, it can be a wake-up call.

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The articles on this website are for information only and should not replace medical advice