Overweight & Obesity

Anyone whose weight is greater than what’s considered healthy for their height is described as being overweight or obese based on their Body Mass Index or BMI. According to the CDC, anyone with a BMI of 25 to 30 is overweight. BMIs above 30 places you in the obese range. BMIs below 25 put you in the normal range, and if your BMI is below 18.5, you are in the underweight range. You can check your own BMI by using the CDC’s Adult BMI Calculator.

Finding your BMI

Your Body Mass Index is derived by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. While BMI can be used as a screening tool to determine overweight and obesity, it is not necessarily an indicator of body fatness or general health. Some athletes, for example, may have higher BMIs despite having very little body fat, and may be considered extremely healthy using other objective health measures. But for most individuals, BMI is strongly correlated with negative health outcomes, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer – some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death.

Obesity is a major health concern in America

According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, adult obesity in America reached 42.4 percent, or nearly half of the population in 2018. While some people can reduce their BMI with proper diet and regular exercise, some will need more aggressive interventions such as bariatric or weight loss surgery.

Dr. Danthuluri is a skilled, experienced bariatric surgeon, fellowship trained in bariatric surgery and a fellow of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Bariatric surgery is aimed at morbidly obese patients, those with a BMI above 40. Bariatric surgery is the most effective, long-lasting treatment for severe obesity. It leads to significant weight loss and the improvement, prevention or resolution of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea and even certain cancers.

Calculate Your BMI