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BMI iconBMI CALCULATOR
What does BMI mean?

Understanding the BMI

Body Mass Index is the easiest and most appropriate method of knowing if one has a healthy or an unhealthy weight.

BMI is calculated by using following formula:

BMI = Weight (in kilograms)

Height (m) X Height (m)

BMI range - kg/m2 Category
<18.5 Underweight
18.5-23.5 Normal
23.5-27.5 Overweight
27.5-37.5 Obese
> 37.5 Morbidly Obese
> 50 Super Obese
> 60 Super Super Obese

Morbid Obesity

Morbid obesity is a state of severe obesity defined by following BMI criteria.

  • BMI > 37.5 with or without associated illness.
  • BMI > 32.5 with diseases like diabetes, hypertension etc.

Those who are morbidly obese are at greater risk for illnesses including diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gallstones, osteoarthritis, heart disease, infertility and cancer.

Treatment options

The various treatment options available for obesity are as follows:

Diet & Exercise

If BMI > 23.5 then lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise is the appropriate choice of treatment. Increased physical activity or exercise, reducing calories and practicing healthier eating habits are vital to overcoming obesity.

Weight Loss Drugs

: If BMI > 27.5 with co-morbidities or > 30 with or without co-morbidities, pharmacotherapy with weight loss drugs is the treatment option available. Close medical monitoring is required while taking a prescription weight-loss medication.

Surgery

: If BMI > 32.5 with co-morbidities or > 37.5 with or without co-morbidities, Bariatric surgery is the appropriate choice of treatment. Weight-loss surgery for obesity may be considered if other methods to lose weight haven't worked.

Causes of Obesity

  • Genetics: Genetics affect hormones involved in fat regulation. A person is more likely to develop obesity if one or both parents are obese.
  • Lack of Caloric Balance:If you are eating more calories than your body is using, you will store these extra calories as fat and you'll gain weight.
  • An Inactive Lifestyle: Lack of adequate physical exercise and leisure activities like centred around television / computers, improved transportation facilities and mechanization of jobs.
  • Our environment:Easily available processed and unhealthy foods and oversized food portions increase the chances of becoming obese.
  • Medications:The reason for the weight gain with the medications differs for each medication.Medications associated with weight gain include certain antidepressants,anticonvulsants, diabetes medications, certain hormones like steroids, some high blood pressure medications and antihistamines.
  • Psychological factors: Some psychological factors like emotional stress, anger, sadness etc. can also lead to weight gain, as people tend to eat more during such conditions.
  • Diseases:such as hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, polycystic ovary syndrome, and Cushing's syndrome also contribute to obesity.

Types of Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is considered to be the most effective treatment for obesity in terms of maintenance of long-term weight loss and improvement in obesity-related comorbid conditions.
Bariatric surgical procedures cause weight loss by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold, causing malabsorption of nutrients, or by a combination of both gastric restriction and malabsorption. Bariatric procedures also cause desired hormonal changes. Most weight loss surgeries today are performed using minimally invasive techniques (laparoscopic surgery).
Realtion of

Diabetes & Obesity

Diabetes - Dual Epidemic of Modern Era

Indians are genetically susceptible to weight accumulation, especially around the waist. An obese individual is much more susceptible to diseases like diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis and obstructive sleep apnoea.

Studies have shown that:

In MALES, Compared with a healthy weight man, an obese man is 5 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

In FEMALES, An obese woman, compared with a healthy weight woman, is almost 13 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

The traditional approach to treat TYPE 2 DM has been step wise introduction of lifestyle changes with or without oral medications, saving the insulin therapy for last. Treatment should focus equally on remission of both diabetes and obesity and needs to be widely understood. In the light of the escalating global diabetes crisis, the need of the hour is to identify interventions that provide a long term metabolic outcome (obesity and associated diseases remission). There are several methods for treating obesity, such as lifestyle changes encompassing behaviour modification, physical activity, diet modification and medical management. It has been seen that the sustained weight loss is achieved by only 10% of the population.

Bariatric surgery (Obesity surgery) is the most effective long-term treatment for obesity with the greatest chances for amelioration and even resolution of obesity-associated diseases. In the given scenario of increasing morbidity and mortality due to Type II Diabetes Mellitus and obesity, bariatric surgeries emerged as a promising treatment. It provides exceptional sustained weight loss and remission of type II diabetes in addition to improvement in other co morbidities and quality of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Weight-loss surgery is only recommended if you cannot lose a large amount of weight and keep it off by dieting, changing your behaviour, and exercising alone. Doctors often use the body mass index (BMI) and health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure to determine which patients are most likely to benefit from weight-loss surgery.Patients who qualify are those with BMI above 32.5 kg/m2, with associated co-morbidities like diabetes etc or patients with BMI above 37.5 kg/m2, with or without associated co-morbidities.

BMI or Body Mass Index is a measure of calculating a person’s excess weight

It is calculated by the following formula:

Bmi * We as Indians develop complications of obesity at lower BMI.

During your visit to hospital, the doctor needs to explain the risks pertaining to each individual.

The Pros:
  • Weight loss is quick and sustained (long term).
  • Because weight loss is quick, weight-related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, sleep apnea, and heartburn improve quickly.
The Cons:
  • The surgery may result in dumping syndrome, which occurs when food moves too quickly through the stomach and intestines. Dumping syndrome can cause sweating, dizziness, nausea, and severe diarrhoea. Dumping syndrome happens in response to carbohydrate rich diet. However this can be easily avoided if you follow small dietary modifications suggested by the nutritionist.
  • Staple line leak.

The Pros:
  • Eliminates the portion of the stomach that produces the hunger stimulating hormone (Gherlin).
  • Adverse effect of Dumping Syndrome is not observed.
  • Minimizes the chance of an ulcer occurring.
The Cons:
  • A gastric sleeve is irreversible.
  • Staple line leak

Generally, hospital stays can be between three to four days.

It will depend on the type of surgery and type of your work. In general, plan to take about ten days to two weeks off from work.

Yes, regular exercise is important for maintaining weight loss.

Yes, you will require a lifetime of vitamin supplementation.

  • Eat small meals
  • Eat nutritious and balanced diet (high in protein and low in carbohydrates and fats).
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Regular follow up with your surgeon.

Insurance coverage will depends on individual insurance plan. Please confirm with your insurance cover provider.

  • Restriction of alcohol and tobacco is advised as it helps in pre and post operative period.
  • Follow your surgeon’s instructions for any prescribed medications.
  • Comply with the instructions provided by your surgeon for any vital tests required before surgery.
  • On the day of surgery, ensure an empty stomach at the start of the procedure to avoid the risk of aspiration.

  • Patient is discharged when his/her oral intake of fluids reaches 1.5 - 2 liters per day.
  • Dressings should be removed during the first follow up that is scheduled on the 7th to 10th day of the surgery.
  • Patients can resume their normal activities as and when they feel comfortable. They need to follow and respond to their body language. Infact, the physical activity helps them in early recovery and sense of well being
  • Carefully follow the diet instructions provided by your nutritionist.
  • Ensure compliance of pain and other medications prescribed by your doctor.
  • Ensure regular follow up with your surgeon.

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