Morbid Obesity
Definition The term morbid obesity refers to patients who are 50-100% or 100 pounds above their ideal body weight. Alternatively, a BMI value greater than 39 may be used to diagnose morbid obesity.
Overview & Considerations
Medical problems commonly resulting from untreated morbid obesity include the following:
Affected people may gradually develop hypoxemia (decreased blood oxygen saturation) and have problems with sleep apnea (periodic cessation of breathing while asleep).
Decreased blood oxygen and problems associated with sleep apnea may result in feeling drowsy through the day (somnolence), high blood pressure, and pulmonary hypertension. In extreme cases, especially when medical treatment is not sought, this can lead to right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale), and ultimately death.
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