The term "morbid obesity" refers to a person who is at least 100 lbs. over his ideal weight. Some medical experts, like the Obesity Action Coalition organization, consider somebody morbidly obese if his body mass index (BMI) is over 40. While morbid obesity was rare a few decades ago, there are now over 9 million Americans who fall into this category.
Liquid Diets
Hospitals and dietitians might recommend liquid diets in cases of morbid obesity. These diets are especially useful if you have health problems connected to your obesity. For example, if you have high blood pressure or diabetes you might benefit from losing weight rapidly. Prescription liquid diets such as Optifast provide as little as 400 calories per day and can cause a loss of up to four pounds per week. Liquid low-calorie diets require close supervision by a medical professional.
Pre-Surgery Diet
If you are morbidly obese you may qualify for bariatric surgery. Although several types of obesity surgery exist, the most common are gastric banding or stomach reduction. These reduce the amount of food you can eat at once, either because your stomach is now smaller or because it empties more slowly, causing you to feel fuller for longer. Most often, the person who chooses to undergo bariatric surgery will need to adhere to a pre-surgery diet, supervised by her doctor. Although this varies from one hospital to the next, the typical pre-op regimen is a liquid, high-protein diet supplying as much as 120 g of protein per day. This will help reduce the amount of fat around the liver while protecting muscle tissue.
Private Treatment Centers
Ordinary hospitals are often not equipped to assist the morbidly obese in their weight-loss efforts. Private clinics and rehabilitation centers might offer better options if you urgently need to lose weight. For example, the Brookhaven Rehabilitation & Health Care Center has a treatment center for obese people. Here, people learn the basics of a healthy diet, how to cook low-fat foods and avoiding unhealthy choices.
In-Patient Treatment for Children
A 2004 study published in the "Journal of Pediatric Psychology" followed a group of children in a 10-month in-patient program. The children, who were between 7 and 17 years of age, were all classified as either obese or morbidly so. Rather than a low-calorie diet, the hospital put the children in a modified diet plan. The diet focused on healthy eating, coupled with cognitive--behavior therapy. At the end of the study, the children had lost an average of 49 percent of their original body weight.
References
- Obesity Action Coalition: What Is Morbid Obesity?
- University of Rochester Medical Center: Understanding Bariatric Surgery: Types of Surgery
- Bariatric: Bariatric Surgery Pre-Op Diet
- "Journal of Pediatric Psychology"; Inpatient Treatment for Children With Obesity: Weight Loss, Psychological Well-Being and Eating Behavior; Caroline Braet, Ph.D. et al; 2004
- Vanderbilt University; Liquid Diets: Safe and Effective?; Elizabeth Hemphill; 2010
- Brookhaven Rehabilitation & Health Care Center: The New York Bariatric Wellness Program
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