Obesity vs. Morbid Obesity

It’s important to understand the difference between obesity, a common medical condition, and morbid obesity, which is considered a disease.

Obesity
• Obesity is most often defined as being 20% or more over ideal body weight.
• Obesity affects 59% of adults in our country.
• Obesity can have profoundly negative effects on your physical and mental health as well as unfortunate social consequences, such as discrimination due to your weight.
• Obesity is not a character flaw.

Morbid Obesity
• Morbid obesity is a much more severe form of obesity.
• A person who is 100 or more pounds overweight is considered morbidly obese.
• Morbid obesity affects an estimated 9 million Americans.
• Morbid obesity is a serious disease that has been linked to shortened life expectancy.

According to C. Everett Koop, M.D., former Surgeon General of the United States, obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in America. Find out more about the health and social implications of obesity and discover the options available to you.