What Health Complications Result from Morbid Obesity?
Morbid obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more. Additionally, those with a BMI of 35 or more who have serious health conditions as a result of their weigh are also considered to be morbidly obese.
Physical Complications
Morbid obesity can lead to a variety of health complications, some of which are listed below:
- Metabolic syndrome, in which cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar are all too high
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Asthma
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Cancer, including cervical, uterus, gallbladder, pancreatic, colon, rectum, esophageal, liver, ovarian, and prostate cancers
- Gallbladder disease and gallstones
- Osteoarthritis, particularly in weight-bearing joints
- Erectile dysfunction
- Irregular periods
- Infertility
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, in which fat builds up on the liver and causes inflammation
The above list is just the physical health complications that result from morbid obesity. The impact it can have on your quality of life can also lead to depression and social anxiety. It may also cause temporary and long-term disability.
Treatment and Prevention
The primary way to treat morbid obesity (and to promote overall health) is diet and exercise. Eating the right nutrients, avoiding foods high in fat and sugar, and burning calories by staying active all help with weight control. These also help prevent weight gain (or regain) by improving your mood and increasing energy levels.
In some cases, your best efforts to lose weight through healthy eating and regular exercise may be unsuccessful. In these cases, you may need to resort to more dramatic measures. Bariatric surgeries may be necessary to give you the extra edge you need to lose weight and keep it off.
If it seems you have tried everything and you need additional help to conquer morbid obesity, contact the office of Malladi Bariatrics and Advanced Surgery to schedule an appointment. Dr. Malladi can help you get the help you need to reclaim your health and improve your quality of life.
