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| Obesity results from the excessive accumulation
of fat that exceeds the body's skeletal and physical
standards. According to the National Institutes of
Health (NIH), an increase in 20 percent or more above
your ideal body weight is the point at which excess
weight becomes a health risk. Today 97 million Americans,
more than one-third of the adult population, are
overweight or obese. An estimated 5 to 10 million
of those are considered morbidly obese. |
| Obesity becomes "morbid" when it reaches
the point of significantly increasing the risk of
one or more obesity-related health conditions or
serious diseases (also known as co-morbidities) that
result either in significant physical disability
or even death. As you read about morbid obesity you
may also see the term "clinically severe obesity" used.
Both are descriptions of the same condition and can
be used interchangeably. Morbid obesity is typically
defined as being 100 lbs. or more over ideal body
weight or having a Body Mass Index of 40 or higher.
According to the National Institutes of Health Consensus
Report, morbid obesity is a serious disease and must
be treated as such. It is a chronic disease, meaning
that its symptoms build slowly over an extended period
of time. |
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