What is obesity?

Weight gain and obesity develops when the energy supplied from the food and drink you consume is greater than the energy your body needs for physical activity and other metabolic processes.

According to the NSW Department of Health, overweight and obesity is a serious, chronic medical condition.

Severe or "Morbid" Obesity

Obesity becomes "morbid" when it reaches the point of significantly increasing the risk of one or more obesity-related health conditions or diseases (also known as co-morbidities) that can result either in significant physical disability or even death.

Morbid obesity brings with it an increased risk for a shorter life expectancy. For individuals whose weight exceeds 50% above their ideal body weight, the risk of an early death is doubled compared to non-obese individuals.

Am I Morbidly Obese?

Answering this question may give you the courage you need to take the first step. Below is a Body Mass Index calculator you can use to determine if you are possibly morbidly obese and potentially a candidate for weight loss surgery.

There are several medically accepted criteria for defining morbid obesity. You are likely to be morbidly obese if you:

• are more than 45.4 kg over your ideal body weight, or
• have a Body Mass Index BMI of over 40, or
• have a Body Mass Index BMI of over 35 and are experiencing severe negative health effects (known medically as co-morbidities), such as high blood pressure related to being severely overweight

Formula: BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (metres)

What it means:

Causes of obesity

The following have been identified as important contributing factors in becoming overweight or obese.

• Energy intake from food exceeds energy expenditure, but obesity is not simply a result of overeating.
• Biological factors such as age, sex, hormonal and genetics.
• Behavioural influences such as learnt habits, emotions, attitudes, beliefs and thought process.
• Environmental/societal influences such as social, political and economic environment.
• Metabolism and the potential effects of a 'set point'.
• Some medical conditions such as hypothyroidism.

It is very important to understand that all current medical interventions, including weight loss surgery, should not be considered medical cures. Rather they are attempts to reduce the effects of excessive weight and alleviate the serious physical, emotional and social consequences of morbid obesity.