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What is obesity
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body Mass Index (BMI) is measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. BMI does not differentiate between body fat and muscle mass. Therefore, body builders and people who have a lot of muscle bulk will have a high BMI but are not overweight or obese.
BMI Classifications:
| Classification |
BMI |
| Underweight |
<19 |
| Ideal BMI |
19-25 |
| Overweight |
25-30 |
| Obese |
>30 |
| Severely Obese |
>35 |
| Morbidly Obese |
>40 |
| Super Obese |
>50 |
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BMI Calculator
Fat predominantly distributed around the waist is also a risk factor for health complications such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Fat predominantly deposited around the hips and buttocks doesn't have this same risk.
- A BMI over 40 is considered morbidly obese or a BMI over 35 along with other obesity related conditions such as those mentioned in table below
- Another way to calculate being overweight is by your waist measurement. Risks increase with a waist measurement of over 40 inches (102cm) in men and over 35 inches (88cm) in women
Health risks associated with obesity
| Greatly increased risk |
Moderately increased risk |
Slightly increased risk |
| Type 2 diabetes |
Heart disease |
Some cancers |
| Gallbladder disease |
Hypertension |
Reproductive abnormalities |
| Insulin resistance |
Osteoarthritis |
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome |
| Breathlessness |
Gout |
Impaired fertility |
| Sleep apnoea |
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Low back pain |
| High cholesterol |
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Anaesthetic complications
(Department of Health 2006) |
If you are thinking about bariatric surgery, calculate your BMI using the BMI calculator above, and see whether you fall into the morbidly obese category.
If you are eligible for surgery, then the next step is to consider the type of bariatric surgery that may be right for you, a laparoscopic gastric band, laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic duodenal switch or a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The majority of people choose to have either the laparoscopic gastric band or laparoscopic gastric bypass.
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