Question:
Is there a medical or legal difference between obesity and morbid obesity?

   — Mark K. (posted on September 15, 1999)

September 15, 1999
Obesity is defined as 20% over idea wt. My ideal wt is 110 (for example). 22 lbs more makes me "obese". So, I'd be considered obese at 132, a weight I could never maintain even on the strictest diet! Morbid obesity is 100 lbs over ideal OR double normal body wt. There's also Super Morbid Obesity. But I forget exactly what the criteria is. My aging memory cells say it's over 500 lbs.
   — vitalady

September 15, 1999
Hi Mark, I would have to say the difference between the two is in "medical condition" going from obese to morbid obese is from what my doctor has said is not only in weight but in the health related isues for me it was my ancles and knees and what they call pickwician syndrom which is very technical it has alot to do with the stress on your heart ect. all kinds of problems can develope when you become morbid obese. that is why some insurances will only pay if it is a heath issue if your just over weight by let say 50 pounds and you basicly still in good health than this would probably be considered "obese" not morbid obesity. hope this helped
   — Ann F.

September 16, 1999
Morbid obesity is generally defined as a body mass index above 40, which is the height in meters divided by the body weight in kilograms, squared, or m/(kg^2)
   — Bruce B.

September 17, 1999
Sorry Doctor, I think you got it backwards, or actually upside-down. If you divide by Weight Squared, your BMI would go down as your weight goes up... I wish! Actually, BMI is (Weight) divided by (Height Squared). But it's easier just to look it up on a height/weight table anyway. Sorry for being a know-it-all. Lynn
   — Lynn K.