Introduction:
Obesity is defined as excess body fat that represents a health risk (1). The estimated prevalence of obesity is increasing among adults globally reaching up to 18.5% (2). Saudi Arabia has a higher prevalence than the global average, in which about half of adults are estimated to be obese with a 2.1% annual increase rate (2). Moreover, high body mass index is the leading risk factor that drives most disability and deaths combined in Saudi Arabia (3). Obesity can be classified depending on measured body mass index (BMI) and the excess health risk in stage 1 (30-34.9 kg/ m2), stage 2 (35-39.9 kg/ m2), and stage 3 or morbid obesity (>40 kg/ m2) (4). Morbid obesity is further classified into super obesity as a BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2, and super-super obesity as a BMI ≥ 60 kg/m2 (5).
Obesity is a devastating disease that can affect personal physical, mental, and social health and is associated with poor quality of life (6). People with obesity may be comorbid with diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, or some types of cancer. They may also have depression, anxiety, binge eating disorders, and experience social stigma (6). Individual, socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental factors play a role in obesity (7). A healthy lifestyle containing a plant-based diet, physical activity, managing stress, restorative sleep, social connectedness, and avoiding risky substances are modifiable risk factors that may prevent and treat obesity (8). Treatment of obesity can be augmented with pharmacological or surgical intervention (9).
This is a report of a super obese patient who underwent a successful lifestyle modification process with remarkable weight loss.