Obesity is a common problem in our country because of several factors involved. It is a health condition determined by calculating body mass index or BMI. This calculation requires an individual to find the ratio of weight and height. Ideally, when the BMI of an individual goes beyond 35 along with serious health issues, or crosses 40, they are declared morbidly obese.
Biological facts state that the body must have only 20% fat to keep the organ systems healthy. However, when there is an imbalance in diet, physical activity, and hormones, the fat percentage will likely increase and harm the body. Once you cross 30 percent body fat, your body starts struggling to perform basic functions properly.
Before understanding the treatment and prevention, it is essential to be aware of the origin of the problem. Let us break down what morbid obesity actually means, what causes it, and what you can do about it.
What Is Morbid Obesity?
So what is morbid obesity exactly? The morbid obesity definition refers to a severe form of obesity where excess body weight creates serious health risks. Doctors call it Class 3 obesity, which is the most dangerous category in the obesity classification system.
The word morbid comes from medical terminology and means causing disease. This goes way beyond being slightly overweight or just carrying a few extra kilos. Severe morbid obesity dramatically increases your chances of developing life-threatening conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Understanding BMI And How Obesity Is Measured
The full form of BMI in medical terms is Body Mass Index. It measures the ratio of your weight to your height. This simple calculation helps doctors figure out where you stand on the obesity scale BMI.
Here are the BMI categories and BMI ranges you should know about:
- Normal BMI range: 18.5 to 24.9
- Overweight: 25 to 29.9
- Obese Class 1: 30 to 34.9
- Obese Class 2: 35 to 39.9
- Class 3 obesity or Morbid obesity BMI: 40 and above
The healthy BMI range for Indians is actually considered slightly lower because of our body composition. A body mass index normal value for most Indians should ideally stay below 23.
When your BMI crosses 40, or when it goes above 35 along with obesity related health problems, you fall into the morbid obesity category. The hyper obesity value in terms of BMI goes even higher, typically above 50.
Signs And Symptoms Of Morbid Obesity
The signs and symptoms of morbid obesity show up in ways that go far beyond what your weighing scale tells you. Obesity symptoms impact your entire body from head to toe.
Common symptoms of obesity and morbid obesity include:
- Breathlessness during normal everyday activities like climbing stairs or walking short distances
- Excessive sweating even in cool weather
- Feeling exhausted all the time despite getting enough sleep
- Constant pain in your joints especially knees and lower back
- Trouble sleeping or waking up choking at night due to sleep apnea
- Skin infections and rashes in areas where skin folds over itself
- Struggling to do simple daily tasks like tying shoelaces or getting up from a chair
- Withdrawing from social situations because of low confidence
Weight gain symptoms usually creep up slowly over time. Many people brush them off as just getting older or being stressed out. But if you notice overweight symptoms like never ending tiredness and finding it harder and harder to move around, you need to get yourself checked.
Causes Of Obesity And Weight Gain
Every time you consume food, it reaches the body as calories for its utilisation. However, when the body receives sufficient calories for the day, it stores the extra calories as fat. As a result, the fat accumulates over time, making the person overweight.
One of the common myths related to morbid obesity is that it only happens because of overeating and fat rich components in the diet. However, there is more to morbid obesity than just unhealthy eating habits. The reasons for obesity are almost never straightforward or simple.
Excess Calorie Consumption
Eating more calories than your body can burn remains the most common cause. Medical records document this as morbid obesity due to excess calories ICD 10 code E66.01. When those extra calories pile up year after year, the outcome is morbid severe obesity due to excess calories ICD 10.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Living a sedentary life ranks among the top 3 main causes of obesity today. Our modern lifestyles keep us glued to chairs for hours at a stretch whether at office desks, inside cars, or on sofas watching television.
Hormonal Imbalances
Conditions like PCOS, thyroid disorders, and insulin resistance are major weight gain reasons in female patients. These remain significant causes of weight gain in females and causes of weight gain in women at every stage of life.
Genetics and Family History
If your parents battled obesity, your own risk goes up considerably. Some people inherit a tendency to gain weight more easily than others.
Medications
Some medications cause reasons for sudden weight gain as an unwanted side effect. Steroids, certain antidepressants, and some diabetes drugs can add kilos without you changing anything about your eating habits.
Emotional and Stress Eating
Stress, anxiety, and feeling low often push people toward food for comfort. Many find themselves asking why my weight is increasing without connecting the dots to their emotional state.
Complications Of Obesity
The complications of obesity and obesity health problems spread across nearly every system in your body. Obesity problems multiply as the weight keeps increasing.
- Heart Disease: Carrying extra weight puts tremendous strain on your heart and damages your blood vessels over time. Heart disease kills more obese people than any other condition.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Central obesity and abdominal obesity directly interfere with how insulin works in your body. The fat sitting around your belly makes diabetes much more likely.
- Joint Problems: Your joints take a beating from all that extra weight. Many obese patients end up needing knee or hip replacements decades earlier than they should.
- Sleep Apnea: Your breathing stops again and again while you sleep. This problem shows up extremely often in morbidly obese individuals.
- Fatty Liver Disease: Too much fat builds up in your liver, leading to inflammation and potentially liver failure.
- Increased Cancer Risk: The chances of getting breast cancer, colon cancer, and kidney cancer all increase significantly with obesity.
- Mental Health Issues: Depression, anxiety, and feeling worthless affect countless people who struggle with severe obesity.
Morbid Obesity In Pregnancy
Morbidly obese pregnant women face additional dangers that require careful management. The morbid obesity in pregnancy ICD 10 code O99.21 helps doctors identify and monitor these high risk cases.
Risks that morbidly obese pregnant women deal with include:
- Gestational diabetes
- Preeclampsia and high blood pressure
- Higher chances of needing cesarean delivery
- Complications during birth
- Increased risk of miscarriage
If you are thinking about getting pregnant and currently struggle with your weight, tackling obesity before conception dramatically improves outcomes for both you and your baby.
ICD 10 Codes For Medical Reference
Healthcare providers and insurance companies use these codes for documentation:
- Morbid obesity ICD 10: E66.01
- ICD 10 code for morbid obesity: E66.01
- Morbidly obese ICD 10: E66.01
- Morbid obesity due to excess calories ICD 10: E66.01
- Morbid severe obesity due to excess calories ICD 10: E66.01
- Morbid obesity in pregnancy ICD 10: O99.21
Morbid Obesity Treatment Options
Here is the good news. Morbid obesity can be treated successfully. Several different approaches exist and the right combination depends on your individual situation.
Dietary Changes
Working with a nutritionist to build a sustainable obesity diet plan forms the foundation of treatment. Forget crash diets that leave you starving. This is about learning how to reduce body weight through changes you can actually maintain for life.
- Control your portions at every meal
- Eat more vegetables, fruits, and protein
- Cut back on processed foods, sugar, and fried items
- Pay attention to what you eat and why you eat
Physical Activity
Getting your body moving makes a real difference. Even small increases in physical activity help. If exercise feels impossible right now, start by just walking.
- Begin with 10 to 15 minutes of brisk walking daily
- Slowly increase duration and intensity over weeks
- Try swimming or cycling if joint pain limits walking
- Stay consistent rather than pushing too hard too fast
Behavioural Support
Tackling the emotional side of eating and developing healthier habits often requires professional support. Many people see great results when they add counselling to their medical treatment plan.
Medications
Prescription weight loss medications work well for some patients when combined with lifestyle changes. Your doctor can assess whether you would benefit from this option.
Bariatric Surgery
For patients with BMI above 40, or above 35 with serious health conditions, bariatric surgery delivers powerful results. Gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are the most common procedures.
Many patients achieve impressive morbidly obese weight loss without surgery through comprehensive medical programs that combine diet changes, exercise routines, medications, and behavioural support. Going under the knife is definitely not your only option.
How To Start Your Weight Loss Journey
If you find yourself wondering am I fat enough to actually need help, here is the truth. Anyone struggling with their weight deserves proper support. You do not have to wait until things reach a crisis point before seeking help.
- Get your BMI calculated accurately
- Go through a complete health assessment
- Work with your doctor to identify what is actually causing your weight gain
- Build a treatment plan designed specifically for you
- Find people who will support you through the process
- Keep track of your progress consistently
Take The First Step With Clinikk Health Hub
Living with morbid obesity drains you physically and emotionally. Every single day feels harder than it should. But things do not have to stay this way.
At Clinikk Health Hub we understand that obesity is a medical condition and not some kind of personal failure. Our team of specialists delivers comprehensive care in an environment free from judgment to help you take back control of your health.
We provide complete obesity management including:
- Thorough health assessments to understand your current condition
- Nutrition plans tailored to your needs and preferences
- Medical supervision throughout your weight loss journey
- Continuous support to keep you motivated and on track
Whether you need help making lifestyle changes or want to explore advanced treatment options, we have got you covered.
Your weight does not define who you are. But it should not hold you back from living your life either.
Stop waiting for the perfect moment to start. Your health cannot afford to wait any longer. Book your consultation with Clinikk Health Hub today and take that first step toward becoming healthier and more active.
Call us or book online now. Your transformation starts with one decision.
