Question:
Is not being able to clean yourself properly a co-morbidity?

   — Jessica Hernandez (posted on July 7, 2002)

July 7, 2002
Jessica, As I understand them, hygiene issues are not truly co-morbidities, but my surgeon had a full page of daily activities, and we had to check off whether we could do them easily, with difficulty or only with help. If you can't do daily activities like wiping and bathing, it is one more reason that the surgery would be considered medically necessary. Good luck getting your approval.
   — Janis D.

July 7, 2002
Smelling bad is not a co-morbidity (sorry!), but skin rashes and/or infections caused from poor hygiene (due to obesity) can definitely be considered co-morbidities. Hope the info. helps.
   — Terissa R.

July 7, 2002
No, it is just an unfortunate problem. A co-morbidity (or "morbidity") is something that "threatens" you life, or could cause your death - prematurely.
   — Cathy J.