What is Morbid Obesity? Obesity becomes "morbid" when it reaches
the point of significantly increasing the risk of one or more
obesity-related health conditions or serious diseases (also
known as co-morbidities) that result either in significant
physical disability or even death. As you read about morbid
obesity you may also see the term "clinically severe obesity"
used. Both are descriptions of the same condition and can be
used interchangeably. Morbid obesity is typically defined as
being 100 lbs. or more over ideal body weight or having a Body
Mass Index of 40 or higher. According to the National Institutes
of Health Consensus Report, morbid obesity is a serious disease
and must be treated as such. It is a chronic disease, meaning
that its symptoms build slowly over an extended period of time.