Morbid Obesity and Obesity Defined
Are You Morbidly Obese?
A healthy weight is critical to your physical and psychological well-being. In the United States, more than 72 million adults are considered obese. Obesity—defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 30 kg/m2—can lead to a wide range of health problems such as sleep apnea, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and even premature death. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of developing many of these problems.
Body Mass Index (BMI): A healthy weight range is determined by considering weight in relation to height. BMI is commonly used to provide an indication of an individual’s level of body fat and assess whether your weight falls within a healthy range. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703. Use Sutter Health's BMI calculator to determine your BMI.
Ideal body weight: This concept is most closely associated with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Tables that prescribed “ideal” weight ranges related to height. Historically, this data set did not consider age or body frame. A better approach to determining your ideal body weight is to consider a range based on a BMI range.
BMI Parameters:
- Below 18.5 kg/m2 BMI: Underwight
- 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2 BMI: Normal
- 24 - 29.9 kg/m2 BMI: Overweight
- 30+ kg/m2 BMI: Obese
Generally, a BMI of 19-25 is considered normal or healthy. A BMI of 26-30 is considered overweight, but for larger framed individuals or those with greater muscle mass, this BMI may be considered healthy. Obese individuals who are trying to lose weight through surgery should pick a goal weight that correlates with a BMI range of 22-28 or in some cases, even higher. This accounts for the weight of some excess skin. It is important to understand that your goal weight should be achieved only by losing fat while preserving muscle mass.
Morbid obesity is defined as having a BMI greater than 40 kg/m2 or 35 to 39.9 kg/m2 with weight-related medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol levels, and arthritis. Once your BMI is greater than 35 kg/m2, your risk of developing these medical problems or dying from obesity-related complications increases significantly.
Weight loss surgery is an option for qualified individuals with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2.
About Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
Consult a Top Bariatric Surgeon
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, part of the Sutter Health network, offers bariatric surgery for weight loss. Our team performs surgery at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). Procedures include gastric bypass, gastric banding with LAP-BAND® or REALIZE® and stomach stapling procedures. Our weight loss surgeon performs bariatric, gastroenterology and endocrine surgery on patients from San Francisco Bay Area cities including San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Oakland, Walnut Creek, and beyond.
San Francisco Weight Loss, GI & Endocrine Surgery Office (MAP)
1375 Sutter Street, Ste 208, San Francisco, CA 94109
Tel. 415-923-3200 Fax. 415-923-3205
Marin Weight Loss, GI & Endocrine Surgery Office
101 Rowland Way, Ste 220, Novato, CA 94595
Tel. 415-923-3200 Fax. 415-923-3205
