Morbid Obesity: Will You Allow It To Kill You?

In his book, ‘Morbid Obesity: Will You Allow It To Kill You?’ author Eduardo Chapunoff provides an in-depth account of morbid obesity that includes the causes, physiological and physiological effects, treatments, and what those suffering from obesity must do psychologically and emotionally to achieve long term weight loss. Chapunoff’s fundamental message to achieving successful long term weight loss is “radical behavior modification.”

In the US, obesity was not classified as a disease until 1985 and now the disease has an estimated annual cost of $117 billion. Chapunoff explains that morbid obesity must be treated as a medical disease, not as a lifestyle choice. He also explains that morbid obesity is a condition when one has a weight excess of 100 pounds or more and a BMI greater than or equal to 40. He provides a thorough account of what happens to the body’s organs such as the heart, lungs, and other systems when one is morbidly obese. An emphasis is placed on its life threatening effects as well as the psychological effects and social implications. He also discusses ‘comorbidities’, the diseases closely associated with morbid obesity.

Chapunoff provides key messages to treating obesity such as: “Don’t hate the problem. Instead love the challenge, radical behavior modification is essential, and awareness helps prevention.” He goes into great detail about the options to treating obesity such as the various surgical methods and when morbid obesity causes one to be disabled and at a great risk of dying, weight loss surgery is essential. He talks about how society promotes not only eating, but also over eating, including the kinds of foods that contribute to obesity. Different types of weight loss surgeries are discussed that includes the types of procedures, risks, benefits, and what to expect during and after the surgery. He outlines the misconceptions, misunderstandings, and miscalculation in the management of morbid obesity, as well as the role of patients and their friends, family, surgeons, and insurance company.

Morbid obesity is a disease that has become an epidemic in western society. ‘Morbid Obesity: Will You Allow It To Kill You?’ is a thorough and easy to understand book about morbid obesity that provides extensive information to help people better understand this disease. Very insightful parts of the book are the interviews with weight loss surgeons and patients who have had the procedure. Chapunoff also provides behavior modification tips that will help people achieve long term weight loss no matter what weight loss option they choose. The book contains a vast wealth of information about the physiological, psychological, financial, and social implications of morbid obesity. As well, Chapunoff discusses the alarming increase in the number of children suffering from childhood obesity.

I highly recommend ‘‘Morbid Obesity: Will You Allow It To Kill You?’’ to individuals, parents, and health professionals as an educational and insightful guide on the issues surrounding morbid obesity and what people can do to prevent and treat this disease.

Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services