Chapter 1 Definitions, social trends, and epidemiology
Mark Bellamy and
Michel Struys
- • Obesity is an epidemic facing society at large.
- • Body mass index is widely used to define obesity but waist circumference is more predictive of morbidity.
- • Obese >30 kg per square metre.
- • Morbidly obese >40 kg per square metre.
- • 43% of men and 33% of women are overweight.
- • 22% of men and 23% of women are obese.
- • In the United Kingdom, obesity results in 30,000 deaths per year.
- • The estimated cost to the National Health Service in the United Kingdom is between £0.5 and £1 billion annually.
- • When the obese patient presents for anaesthesia, the challenges to the anaesthetist and theatre team are very real.
