early 100 million Americans have obesity, and 5 to 10 million people in the U.S. are considered “morbidly” obese. Morbid obesity is usually characterized by a person being overweight by 75 to 100 pounds or more, reaching a point where the risk of developing obesity related conditions and serious diseases (co-morbidities) can lead to disability or death. Morbid obesity is also defined by having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher.

Morbid obesity is a disease, and a chronic one – with symptoms slowly building over time.

Here are some facts and statistics about obesity:

• 34 percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight, and 31 percent are considered obese
• 15 percent of adolescents and children aged 6 through 19 are considered seriously overweight
• 10 percent of children between the ages of two and five are considered seriously overweight
• The number of children who are overweight has doubled over a 30-year period
• The number of adolescents who are overweight has tripled over a 30-year period
• Each year, an estimated 300,000 deaths are linked to obesity or being overweight
• About 400,000 deaths in the year 2000 (17 percent of the U.S. total) were linked to poor diet and physical activity. This was an increase of 33 percent from 1990, accelerating the chances that lack of exercise and bad eating habits will overtake tobacco as the Number 1 cause of preventable death in the U.S.
• An increased risk of severe health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, gallstones, sleep apnea, and musculoskeletal disorders are associated with obesity
• The risk of premature death is increased by 50 to 100 percent for someone who is obese
• Annual costs of obesity, both direct and indirect, are estimated to be $117 billion dollars in the U.S
• About 45 percent of women and 25 percent of men are trying to lose weight at any one time

Please contact Texas Laparoscopic Consultants for more information on obesity and morbid obesity. We will be happy to answer your questions.