Obesity is a serious health epidemic that targets one in three Americans. It is estimated that more than 93 million Americans are obese, with that number predicted to climb to 120 million in the next five years. As a result, many are turning to obesity surgery as a solution. There are many medical conditions that are associated with obesity. Individuals who are obese are at risk of developing one or more of these serious medical conditions which impacts state of health and can lead to an early death. More and more people are considering obesity surgery to reduce these health complications.
The most prevalent obesity-related diseases include:
• High Blood Pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
It is estimated that more than eight million Americans are morbidly obese. Morbid obesity is characterized by an individual weighing more than 100 pounds over their ideal body weight, or having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher. Obesity surgery can be an option for people who are morbidly obese.
Morbid obesity is most commonly calculated using body mass index (BMI). BMI is not used to determine a person’s actual percentage of body fat, but it is a good indicator to categorize weight in terms of what is healthy and unhealthy.
Determining how much you should weigh is not a simple matter of looking at an insurance height-weight chart but includes considering the amount of bone, muscle, and fat in you body's composition. Use our online calculator to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI).
BMI
| | | | Non Surgical Programs at MUSC | The MUSC Weight Management Center offers a wide range of non-surgical and research programs. We offer programs to serve the different needs of different people. However, all of our work with patients includes a strong emphasis on helping them to make the long-term lifestyle changes that are so important for success in the long run.  More information on our
Weight Management Center
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