Obesity is a major health problem and one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States. Studies have shown that between 30 and 35 percent of American adults are obese. The exact definition of clinically severe obesity is a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 40 kg/m2, or a BMI of 35 kg/ m2 or greater if any of the medical problems listed below exist.
BMI is a measure of size that considers both weight and height. It is calculated by taking weight in kilograms divided by height in meters2. For the average adult, a BMI of 40 kg/m2 is equivalent to being approximately 100 pounds overweight. A BMI of between 25 and 29 is considered overweight but not obese.
To calculate your BMI, use our BMI calculator or see the BMI chart of obese weights .
Clinically severe obesity, which has replaced the term “morbid obesity” is a condition in which people are at very high risk for suffering from medical problems, or even death because of their obesity. Medical problems associated with obesity include:
- diabetes
- high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and high levels of fats in your blood (hyperlipidemia)
- breathing difficulties during sleep (apnea and hypoventilation)
- osteoarthritis
- gallstones and heartburn (reflux esophagitis)
- urinary stress incontinence
- menstrual irregularity and infertility
- depression
- various forms of cancer (breast, colon, uterine)
Learn more about weight loss surgery at The Ohio State University Medical Center.