Bariatric surgery risks, benefits, and care of the morbidly obese are reviewed.

According to a recent review published in the journal Nursing Clinics of North America, “The American Society for Bariatric Surgery defines morbid obesity as a lifelong, progressive, life-threatening, genetically-related, costly, multifactorial disease of excess fat storage with multiple comorbidities. Obesity satisfies the definition of morbid obesity when it reaches the point of significant risk for obesity-related comorbidities.”

“These significant comorbidities often result in either significant physical disability or even death. Obesity results from excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body skeletal and physical standards. Morbid obesity is defined as being at least 100 lb heavier than ideal body weight, or a body mass index (BMI) of 40. BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared,” wrote T.M. Owens at Scripps Memorial Hospital.

The author finished, “This article focuses on the causes, treatment, and perioperative nursing care of patients who are morbidly obese.”

Owens published the review in Nursing Clinics of North America (Bariatric surgery risks, benefits, and care of the morbidly obese. Nurs Clin North Am, 2006;41(2):249+).

For additional information, contact T.M. Owens, Scripps Memorial Hospital, Wittgrove Bariatr Center, 9438 Genesee Avenue, Suite 328, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

The publisher’s contact information for the journal Nursing Clinics of North America is: W B Saunders Co-Elsevier Inc., Independence Square West Curtis Center, Ste. 300, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3399, USA.