SURGICAL TREATMENT OF MORBID OBESITY

Abstract

Morbidly obese individual is defmed as one whose weight reached twice ideal body weight. A variety of measurements can be used for assessment of body fat including gross assessment using pinch and ruler test, skin fold caliper method, standard tables which relates height to weight. However the most widely used formula for relating height and weight is the body mass index, which is determined by dividing body weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. Individual is considered morbidly obese if BMl exceeds 40 kg/m2 In addition to the above measurment radiological investigations like soft tissue X ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can be used. Also, obesity can be classified according to waistlhip ratio into Android obesity and Gynoid obesity. Many factors contribute to obesity as eating habits, genetic factors, some endocrinal syndromes (e.g. hypothalmic syndrome, hypothyroidism, cushing syndrome, polycystic ovarian disease), metabolic defects, frame size and muscle mass, diminished exercise, use of some drugs. It was noticed that obesity is more prevalent in females and low socio economic individuals.