Obesity: The elephant in the room

Abstract

Obesity has become an important public health problem in industrialized countries throughout the world. Body Mass Index (BMI = weight (kg)/(height (m))2) is the primary measurement used to categorize obese patients (Table 20.1). Excess body weight (EBW) is defined as the amount of weight present in excess of Ideal Body Weight (IBW) (as determined by Metropolitan Life Tables). In 1991, the National Institutes of Health defined morbid obesity as a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or greater with severe obesity-related comorbidity, or a BMI of 40 kg/m2 or greater without comorbidity [NIH conference (Ann Intern Med 115:956-961, 1991)].