How to measure obesity (Body Mass Index)
Overweight and obesity are defined using a tool called Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a way of estimating total body fat for most people.


Body Mass Index (BMI) value–

Weight in Kg/ Height in m2= Body Mass Index (BMI)

The health effects of severe obesity include the following:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Osteoarthritis
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• Fatty liver disease
• Gout, a disease affecting the joints
• Gallbladder disease
• Respiratory problems, including sleep apnea
• Colon and rectal cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, gallbladder cancer, and renal cell (kidney) cancer.
• Reproductive and fertility problems

Guidelines for weight loss surgery candidate

• Age between 18 - 65 yrs
• Body mass index > 40 kg/m2 or a body mass index >32.5 and <39.5 kg/m2 with the presence of significant co-morbid* conditions like related to morbid obesity.
• Family history of co-morbid health conditions related to morbid obesity
• Presence of co-morbid health conditions related to morbid obesity
• Failure of established non-surgical weight loss programs to achieve sustained weight loss
• Mental competence

*Co-morbid disease such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, arthritis, breathing   difficulty and infertility