Of the large number of people in the U.S. who are overweight, an increasing number are entering the classification of obese and morbidly obese. Obesity carries a high risk of disease and makes life not only more difficult, but also certainly shorter.
Identification
Anybody who is over 50 percent above his normal weight---according to height, age and sex---is considered morbidly obese
Features
A body mass index (BMI) over 39 also indicates morbid obesity. BMI is the relationship between weight and height.
Considerations
Anybody who is over 100 lbs. over their normal weight is automatically classified as morbidly obese.
Causes
The three main causes of morbid obesity are excessive caloric intake, a sedentary life and a thyroid condition.
Consequences
Morbid obesity can lead to a number of medical conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes and stroke.
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