Weight Loss Surgery Institute

Obesity has become a popular topic in the national conversation during recent years as an increasing percentage of people battle against it. The health costs of obesity are very high, making it important for affected individuals to identify the causes and seek effective solutions for the disorder.

The medical profession divides obesity into two classes: obesity and morbid obesity. The most common method of determining whether any particular individual is obese is with a measurement called the body mass index, or BMI. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy, while a BMI of 30 or more indicates obesity, and a BMI higher than 40 is the cutoff for morbid obesity.

It is estimated that about 36 percent of adults in the United States are obese and about 17 percent of children and teens. This is of concern because of the damage that obesity causes to one’s health and the cost in life satisfaction, productivity, and money that results.