Bariatric Discussion

Obesity Basics :: Morbidity of Obesity :: Medical and Surgical Treatments
Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery :: Who is Eligible for Surgery?

Obesity Basics

• Obesity is a medical term, referring to having a Body Mass Index over >30
• Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of how overweight we are, taking into account an individuals height
• BMI is calculated as follows:

The Epidemic

Worldwide, obesity rates have risen dramatically over the last twenty or thirty years. The reason for this is not fully understood but is almost certainly related to our easy access to high calorie food and drink and reduced rates of physical activity because of technological innovations (e.g. cars for travel, elevators rather than stairs, robotic systems replacing manual work).