for ladies (and gents) who are considered "morbidly obese"....

question: have you noticed any other "symptoms" that have come with being classified as morbidly obese (BMI)? ladies - do you still get regular periods? is your face more oily than before? do you have any other strange medical problems that people just blame on your weight?

just curious...

As a man, who was morbidly obese for abot 10 years... and having just recently fallen under that 100 lb overweight mark*... Aside from high blood pressure, and back pain, I would have said I experienced no symptoms. Looking back, however, reveals a different story.

It's almost like, when I look back, I was a totally different person. I dont mean looks wise.. more, my personality, my abition, my motivations, everything about me. A lot of this can be attributed to eating right though... but weight loss breeds confidence, and succeeding breeds happiness... so I guess Im just a lot better off mentally.

* Quick note, I am still Morbidly obese according the BMI calculation, tape tests on the other hand paint a somewhat different picture. The tape test numbers just make more sense, so that is what I go by.

I've been morbidly obese for 18 years.  I've dieted for most of that time... and happy to say that I'm not dieting anymore, since it obviously didn't work. *hugs new lifestyle... loves it so*

About 4 years ago, I began to have problems with arthritic knees and ankle.  And this year, at my annual checkup, my fasting blood sugar was borderline high, "pre-diabetic".  All my other stats, BP, cholesterol, triglycerides, A1c, etc -- they're all smack dab in the healthy range. My resting heart rate is 65 or so.  :o

My complexion has never been a problem, though I've had a t-zone since before I was overweight.  But I have noticed that the one zit I used to get at TTOM doesn't come anymore.  And starting last December, TTOM became irregular. Though I think it has just reset itself to coming every 35 days now instead of every 28 days like it used to. Before this year - all that TTOM stuff went like clockwork for me even though I've been morbidly obese and not on the pill.  I am approaching *gulp* the big 4-0 and so from what I hear, I can expect stuff to start changing. :| 

People make a lot of assumptions about those of us who are in this weight class.  It's probably a good idea not to 'ass u me' anything about anybody, imo.

Same with me. Worst symptom that is directly attributable to being morbidly obese...really bad knees. Additional symptoms, shortness of breath and heart palpitations. Losing just the 25 pounds I have dropped so far has made a huge difference in my mobility. I had a ton of tests to double check my heart. They found it was all okay and advised me to stop drinking a pot of coffee every day. 

Which, surprisingly, did the trick. :) 

Though I am not morbidly obese, I know there are definitely symptoms for women associated with just plain old obesity, so no doubt they are worse for morbidly obese people.

Irregular periods
A problem, usually attributable to PCOS - Polycystic ovarian syndrome.  Being overweight makes your hormones do crazy things.  You produce different levels of estrogen and testosterone and stop ovulating.  The egg can't release from your ovaries and clings on to it, creating cysts.  This can lead to permanent infertility.  Also, if you don't have periods, the lining in your uterus is sticking around for long periods of time and you can develop uterine cancer as a result.

Facial Hair
On account of the wacked hormones, women can grow facial hair due to higher testosterone levels.  Actually, your overall level might appear just fine, but your doctor has to test for specific types of testosterone

Thinning Hair
Again, crazed hormones cause the increased production of androgens.  Androgens result in the premature thinning of hair.

Insulin Resistence
Ok, so this is a no brainer...but still worth mentioning

On a slightly different note.  There was a great episode of HOUSE where some guy was humungous and all the doctors told him he had to lose weight.  He refused treatment until the doctors would open their mind that there might be something wrong with him other than his weight.  It seemed the doctors just couldn't do it.  Lose weight, they told him.  Turns out, he had a tumor that was causing all his problems.  He was right, the doctors were wrong.  Fabulous episode.

I don't know what the exact definition of "morbidly" obese is . . . I' know I'm definitely obese, but I'm not sure if I fall into that category. 

There are without question symptoms I'm feeling that are at least connected with my weight, if not directly caused by it.  I had an inflammation in my foot nearly two years ago which resulted in a broken bone that still hasn't healed proplerly.  The other foot has developed a similar inflammation.  My knees are problematic lately as well.  I also have frequent shortness of breath.  I haven't had blood sugar, blood pressure, or cholesterol checked lately; I wouldn't be surprised to find that they are affected as well.

The past few months my cycle has been less regular than usual, though that may be attributable to a change in my bc method.

I also suffer from depression -- though it's hard to say how much that is exacerbated by my weight, or how much the depression has actually contributed to my weight problem.

After losing only 12 pounds of the 80 or so I need to lose, Im already seeing some small improvements in my energy level and breathing, and I very anxious to see more!

I started out Obese, I am now considered moderately overweight after losing 21 lbs. Adavidheiser said she had depression, I know since I have been overweight I have had major depression issues as well, but are they from being overweight? I really think it is,  since it is a chemical imbalance, and everything is imbalanced when you are overweight! The thyroid condition I have also attributes to depression and lots of other symptoms, is the thyroid condition there because I am overweight or am I overweight due to the thyroid condition?? What came first the chicken or the egg?

Edit: Of course there are the symptoms like being winded walking up a flight of stairs and being tired all the time. Not to mention the social aspects of not wanting to go out because you feel uncomfortable, and not really fitting in the seat of your car so the seatbelt digs into your hip... ok I think I'm done ranting now!

I was morbidly obese before I started this eating plan.  Now I'm just regular old obsese.  MOst of the symptoms your naming can be attributed to PCOS.  Which I have myself.  PCOS often leads to obesity.  So there's a good chance that the symptoms you mentioned and the morbid obesity all result from the same source.  I'd see a doctor to get some blood tests done to see, there is treatment available.  In my case it doesn't lead to weight loss without diet modification, but it does help to lessen my other symptoms.

I don't know what the exact definition of "morbidly" obese is . . . I' know I'm definitely obese, but I'm not sure if I fall into that category.

If your BMI is 40 or greater, then you are considered (by medical standards) "morbidly obese".

5 years ago I was 300 lbs. I had bad knees, morning back pain, daily heart burn and got winded very quickly. My skin was always good and my periods were like clock work and for being that heavy, I didnt expect much more. I lost about 60 lbs over a period of a couple years  and then began  a slow climb upwards again. On Oct 28th, frustrated, depressed and feeling totally out of control, I stumbled onto CC. Since then I have lost 20 lbs. Weighing in today at 229, I still have knee pain but not nearly as bad, heart burn once in a while when I have too much coffee or eat too much of most anything. I still have back pain in the morning but it has lessened. I still get winded quickly but thats because I no longer work and I have yet to included exercise in my program ( big mistake on my part ). My mental state is far better because I simply like myself more than I did before. I felt out of control. I still have a long road ahead but its getting better with each day. I know that doctors jump at the most obvious of problems. I too got tired of hearing " you have to lose weight ". I always thought to myself " what the heck, that cant be the cause of all my problems ". But maybe it was. And if it was, its far better than having cancer or MS or countless other ailments. Our weight is something we can do something about, its a part of our life that we can control. Not that its an easy task but with the right support and the right information we can do it. I am thankful that my weight problem is strictly from eating too much and lack of activity. For those of who have medical problems causing the weight problem it is much harder and my heart goes out to them. But even under those circumstances, with the right support and information it can be controled. So I guess what Im saying is, that while obesity might not be the cause of all your health issues, its certainly a good place to begin the clean up.

I also have PCOS. I am at 305lb and morbidly obese.

I have all the usual things, delayed periods, facial hair, and studies now show people with PCOS (because of hormone imbalance) tend to feel hungry when they are not.. I used to think this was my excuse to eat... now I just make friends with hunger and wait till lunch.... or dinner.

But besides that. My ankles hurt alot from my weight.

ive had a skin situation since i was about 14 and overweight...not obese. but it runs in my family. in specific area where clothing or skin might touch and rub i can get some really bad cystic outbreaks. they're something like a boil but technically it's called folliculitis. it's extremely painful and ive dealt with it everyday since the day i turned 14....i can't weight to be a healthier weight with less rubbing lol

i'm considered morbidly obese- 5'7" and 276, but for some weird reason, i have had little to no health problems, skin problems, or hair problems. 

I do get the cystic outbreaks on my thighs.  But I do not have high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no knee problems, no oily skin, breakouts and no hairloss.  The only other thing I've noticed is that when i was 309 and pregnant, i had bouts of sleep apnea and some pretty bad hemmoroids; both went away after pregnancy.

Also, I took a class in college when I was 250/260 (still "morbidly obese") and we had to do the presedential fitness test crap that you take in high school, and the only things i didn't pass on were the mile run... it took me 18 minutes to finish; you're supposed to be able to finish in 12, and the chin up; but even the skinny healthy girls couldn't do the chin up.

Maybe I'm just lucky....

logette,

"make friends with hunger" . . .  that's my philosophy.  Very glad to see someone agrees with me.

I don't think it's reasonable to expect to always avoid hunger, so the sooner you learn to make it your friend, the better off you will be.