Obesity is determined by percentage of body fat and weight, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Having a large percentage of body fat, regardless of how much you weigh, is unhealthy. You could be of normal weight or underweight and still have an unhealthy amount of body fat.
Learn more about the symptoms of obesity ›
Regardless of the type or combination of obesity treatment, goal setting is an important part of any obesity treatment plan. Reducing weight by as little as 5 percent to 10 percent of body weight will yield important, positive gains in health. Whatever treatment plan a person follows, losing weight slowly will be more effective and healthy over the long term because quick weight loss often spurs weight regain.
Learn more about treatment for obesity ›
Bariatric bypass surgery is a procedure performed by a bariatric surgeon that changes the size of your stomach and the length of your small intestine to limit how much food can be eaten and absorbed at one time. Types of gastric bypass, or malabsorptive, surgical procedures include Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB) and Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD).
Learn more about bypass surgery ›
