Index
- When do we talk about morbid obesity and what are its consequences?
- Morbid obesity, what is it?
- How to calculate morbid obesity?
- What are the causes and factors aggravating this imbalance?
- What are the risks of morbid obesity?
- Effects on physical health
- Mental Health Implications
When do we talk about morbid obesity and what are its consequences?
Among the diseases that affect the most people around the world, obesity is, without a doubt, at the top of the list. Favoured by the lifestyle and consumer society in which we live, this health problem is the 5th cause of death worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The repercussions of being overweight increase according to its degree of seriousness. Thus, morbid obesity is the most dangerous form of overweight. People who suffer from it can lose up to 15 years in terms of life expectancy. The following paragraphs will give you an insight into morbid obesity and its consequences.
Morbid obesity, what is it?
Obesity is widely known as being overweight. It is characterized by excess fat in certain areas of the body. But when followed by the adjective "morbid", the term means that the overweight in question exposes the person concerned to very serious complications. These can include cardiovascular problems, respiratory failure, various types of cancer (especially liver cancer) and even death. When obesity is too great, health professionals use the term supra-morbid obesity. However, this term is not included in the WHO classification.
It should be noted that morbid obesity can affect both children and adults.
How to calculate morbid obesity?
To determine whether a person is morbidly obese or not, their BMI or body mass index must be calculated. In any case, certain symptoms should already be obvious to the patient or to those around him or her. The most frequent symptoms of obesity are: reduced mobility, joint pain, breathing problems, excessive sweating.
To be sure of your status, you need to know your BMI. To do this, you need to calculate it by dividing your weight in kg by your height squared. In concrete terms, the formula for calculating BMI is as follows: weight (kg)/height (in m) squared. The result is interpreted as follows:
- 30 < BMI < 34.9: this is moderate obesity
- 35 < BMI < 39.9: this is severe obesity
- BMI > 40: this is called morbid obesity
What are the causes and factors aggravating this imbalance?
Morbid obesity differs from other types of overweight in that muscle is replaced by fat. This balance between fat and muscle can have different causes and can be aggravated by certain factors.
- Genetics: Scientists have discovered that certain genes play a significant role in obesity. So, if you have a close relative who is morbidly obese, chances are you are also morbidly obese.
- A sedentary lifestyle: the absence of regular sports activity promotes weight gain. This sedentary lifestyle is accentuated by current modes of transport, all of which are motorized. In parallel with this sedentary lifestyle, the diet is increasingly rich in fat.
- Metabolism: this is also one of the causes of obesity. In fact, not everyone is equal when it comes to energy expenditure at rest. Some people spend more while others don't and store calories in the form of fat.
- Bad eating behaviour: today's lifestyle is causing more and more people to rush to fast Also, snacking is gaining more and more ground and promotes weight gain.
- Anxiety or depression: periods of depression and psychological difficulties can also lead to weight gain to the point of morbid obesity.
What are the risks of morbid obesity?
The consequences of morbid obesity are numerous. They vary in severity and some can even cause death when no action is taken by the person concerned. The risks and effects of being overweight are both mental and physical.
Effects on physical health
Various pathologies are directly related to morbid obesity.
- Type 2 diabetes - obese people are three times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension - morbidly obese people are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop hypertension
- The increase of lipid levels in the blood (bad cholesterol)
- Dyspnea or difficulty in breathing properly under stress
- Gallstones
- Cardiovascular pathologies such as stroke, heart failure or cardiac arrhythmia
In women, morbid obesity can also cause infertility.
Mental Health Implications
As a chronic disease, obesity becomes irreversible when it takes hold. Apart from the effects on the health of the body, this disease also affects the minds of those who suffer from it.
Indeed, to be obese is to expose oneself to :
- An uneasiness and psychological suffering in relation to being confronted with the gaze of others
- Decreased self-esteem and loss of self-confidence
- Depression and social isolation
