Mortality and Cardiac and Vascular Outcomes in Extremely Obese Women

Abstract

Obesity diagnosis and treatment are typically based on body mass index (BMI), calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, of at least 30. However, 3 categories of obesity are defined: obesity 1 (30-34.9); obesity 2 (35-39.9); and extreme obesity (≥40).¹ The latter 2, sometimes termed severe obesity,^2,3 are reported to be increasing especially rapidly in the United States,^4,5 particularly among women, and tend to be persistent.⁶ From 1986 to 2000, prevalence of BMI of 30 or higher approximately doubled, while that of BMI of 40 or higher quadrupled and that of BMI of 50 or higher increased 5-fold.⁵ In 2000, 2.8% of all US women, and 6% of black women reported measurements consistent with extreme obesity.⁴