Obesity is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. This means that morbidly obese patients may live a shorter life and are at risk from a number of medical problems. The higher the BMI the higher the risk to the patient. Even moderate weight loss of 5 to 10% has been shown to produce measurable improved health outcomes.

We know the following will be improved by weight loss:

• Diabetes mellitus (type II)
• High blood pressure
• Dyslipidaemia (problems with fats like cholesterol in the blood)
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Venous and lymphatic stasis
• Osteoarthritis
• Decreased mobility
• Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Urinary stress incontinence

Rates of obesity in New Zealand are comparable to other western countries; however the prevalence of morbid obesity is higher in Maori and Pacific populations than in other ethnic groups. Work in the United States has also shown that Caucasian females from higher income groups are the most likely to undergo bariatric surgery. This may have implications in New Zealand where the patients most deserving may not seek this type of   surgery actively.

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