What is OBESITY?
Obesity is a disease caused by excess body fat. Obesity can contribute to serious health problems and even death. Some of the conditions caused by obesity include: diabetes, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, arthritis, infertility, and certain cancers.
Although obesity can be linked to genetic, environmental, social and psychological factors, at its most basic level, obesity is an energy imbalance. People gain excess weight when they take in more energy (calories) from eating and drinking than the calories they burn through physical activity. Excess calories are stored as fat.
What is METABOLISM?
Metabolism is the process by which the body converts food to energy at the cellular level. The most common metabolic disease is Type 2 Diabetes, which occurs when the body does not adequately metabolize or regulate blood sugars due to lack of insulin or the body’s inability to respond to the insulin that is produced. Increased body fat is associated with an increased risk for metabolic diseases.
What is BODY MASS INDEX?
Body mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height, is one way to measure obesity. It is measured by weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.
Get your BMI here.
What are the INDICATIONS for surgery?
Using the Asia-Pacific Consensus, A BMI of 27 and above is classified as Obese. A BMI of 32-37 (Obesity Type 2) with a co-morbidity of Diabetes Type 2, Hypertension, or any obesity-related disease might qualify a patient for bariatric and metabolic surgery.