Morbid obesity, defined as having a Body Mass Index of 40 or more, is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. It increases the risk of serious illness from over 30 different medical conditions, including diabetes and hypertension. Today, approximately nine million adult Americans can be considered morbidly obese. To some extent, morbid obesity is hereditary. Evidence suggests that genetic influences can account for roughly 33 percent of a person's body weight. We now know that children with a strong family history of obesity are much more likely to struggle with their weight as adults.
Environmental influences and socioeconomic factors also increase a person's risk of morbid obesity. The influence of socioeconomic factors is particularly strong in women; low-income women with fewer resources to devote to diet and exercise are twice as likely to suffer from morbid obesity as women with a higher socioeconomic status. African Americans and Hispanic Americans also appear to have a higher risk of developing morbid obesity due to cultural factors that influence dietary choices and levels of physical activity.
Gastric bypass surgery and LAP BAND surgery are two newer solutions to the health crisis of morbid obesity. Both of these surgeries involve decreasing the size of the stomach to allow for fullness with less food consumption. While both procedures carry risks, they have been shown to be effective for many in losing significant amounts weight and maintaining that weight loss.
