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Morbid obesity

Obesity as such is a chronic disease of various causes characterized by excess fat in the body. There are several categories of obesity depending on the individual’s BMI. BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple mathematical method used to estimate body fat ratio. A patient is said to be obese if his or her BMI exceeds 30.

Calculating your BMI

Morbid obesity is defined as a condition in which an individual has a BMI greater than 40 or is 100 pounds over their ideal weight.

According to the American Obesity Association, morbid obesity currently affects more than 9 million people in the United States, which makes it a public health problem. This is why more and more people are opting for bariatric surgeries.

There are many factors responsible for obesity, but in the specific case of morbid obesity, it seems to be closely related to genetic factors. We have found that among patients who are candidates for surgery for morbid obesity, about 85% have a family history of obesity.

Other circumstances that contribute to obesity are the influence that the environment exerts on the individual, his or her metabolism and eating disorders.

Regarding the environment (the community, work, school, home, etc.), we can say that a diet based on fast food consumption with high caloric content coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, is a strong cause of obesity problems. These types of situations have notoriously increased in contemporary society.

Metabolism, which determines the rate at which the body converts calories from food into energy, influences weight loss or weight gain. There are theories that suggest that when the individual consumes fewer calories (for example, when undergoing diets that reduce and restrict food consumption), the body compensates for the lack of nutrients and reduces the speed with which calories are used, which makes the weight loss process more difficult and slower.

Finally, eating disorders are characterized by the need to ingest food excessively, compulsively and repeatedly without the individual being able to avoid it.

According to the National Institute of Health, morbid obesity is a chronic condition that has been on the rise in recent years. Studies have shown that factors such as diets and exercise contribute, in the long term, to reduce the effects of morbid obesity in patients. But in reality not everyone responds adequately to these efforts and even most patients are not attracted to these types of programs. Therefore, to avoid the serious consequences on the health and life of the individual, surgery for morbid obesity is the most recommended option for all cases.

Bariatric surgery implies a change in eating habits and a total commitment on the part of the patient to rigorously follow all the recommendations given by medical professionals. Our dietitians and nutritionists are important players in the weight loss process as they will assist the patient to follow appropriate and balanced food plans that meet the nutritional needs of the individual.

It is important to point out that morbid obesity is by definition a condition of extreme obesity and the higher the degree of overweight of the patient, the greater the health problems he/she will face.

Among the main health complications that affect morbidly obese patients are diabetes, arterial hypertension, depression, arthritis, asthma and sleep apnea. There is also an increased risk of cancer and an increased vulnerability to obesity-related diseases, which in some cases lead to death.

Morbid obesity surgery is considered an optimal option for those individuals who have decided to treat obesity and the health afflictions that come with it.

Bariatric surgery is the most suitable treatment for morbid obesity. The different options available to treat this condition include gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, gastric balloon and other bariatric surgery techniques.

Ask our specialists and see if bariatric surgery can help you treat obesity, and open the doors to happiness and a healthy and long-lasting life.

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