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Obesity, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery pp 3–11Cite as

Introduction to Obesity

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Abstract

Obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that may impair health. According to World Health Organization (WHO), any individual with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 is obese and severe or class III obesity is defined as a BMI equal to or greater than 40 kg/m2; this term is also used for individuals with a BMI between 30 and 39.9 kg/m2 who have significant comorbidities. National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recommended bariatric surgery for such individuals. The prevalence of severe obesity has increased significantly in the last two to three decades. Mexico and United States of America have highest prevalence in the world and United Kingdom is leading in Europe. BMI is used as a surrogate for adiposity. There are other methods like bioimpedance analysis, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), hydrometry, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and others but for all clinical and interventional purposes, BMI is used as a measure of obesity.

Fat is the main source of stored energy and it also secretes number of hormones and cytokines. Excess central fat deposition is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Overweight (BMI of 25 kg/m2 to 29.9 kg/m2) is associated with increased risk of comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, infertility, certain forms of cancers, psychological and social problems; and the risk of these comorbidities increases significantly with further increase in BMI. The cost of treating obesity and associated comorbidity is causing significant burden on the health system. Conservative treatment has a high failure rate. Bariatric surgery performed primarily for weight reduction also causes resolution/remission of associated comorbidities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Royal Albert Edwards Infirmary, WWL NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan, UK

    Imran Alam MBBS,BSc,FRCS(Glas),FRCSEd,MD

  2. Bariatric Surgery Unit, Homerton University Hospital, London, UK

    Sanjay Agrawal MS, FRCSEd, FRCSGlasg, FRCS (Consultant Surgeon Honorary Senior Lecturer)

  3. Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK

    Sanjay Agrawal MS, FRCSEd, FRCSGlasg, FRCS (Consultant Surgeon Honorary Senior Lecturer)

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  1. Imran Alam MBBS,BSc,FRCS(Glas),FRCSEd,MD
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  2. Sanjay Agrawal MS, FRCSEd, FRCSGlasg, FRCS
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Correspondence to Imran Alam MBBS,BSc,FRCS(Glas),FRCSEd,MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Homerton University Hospital, London, United Kingdom

    Sanjay Agrawal

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Alam, I., Agrawal, S. (2016). Introduction to Obesity. In: Agrawal, S. (eds) Obesity, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04343-2_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04343-2_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-04342-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-04343-2

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