Severe obesity is associated with a large number of associated problems that form the basis of the term morbid obesity. Documented causes of excess mortality in severely obese patients include:

a. Coronary artery disease

b. Hypertension

c. Adult-onset diabetes mellitus

d. Obesity hypoventilation and sleep apnea

e. Pulmonary embolization

Morbid obesity is arbitrarily defined as 100 pounds above ideal body weight as defined by actuarial tables. Premature death is much more common in the severely obese; morbidly obese men aged 25 to 34 years have a 12-fold increase in mortality relative to normal. Causes of early mortality include coronary artery disease, hypertension, impaired ventricular function, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea and other hypoventilation syndromes, pulmonary embolization, and necrotizing soft tissue infections.