Find comprehensive information on morbid obesity, including clinical documentation, ICD-10-CM codes (E66.01, E66.09), BMI calculation, medical coding guidelines, and healthcare best practices for diagnosis and treatment. Learn about associated comorbidities, weight management strategies, and bariatric surgery considerations. This resource provides essential information for healthcare professionals, coders, and patients seeking to understand morbid obesity.
Also known as
Morbid (severe) obesity due to excess calories
Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, due to excessive calorie intake.
Other morbid (severe) obesity
BMI of 40 or greater, unspecified cause or other factors.
Other obesity
Includes obesity related to drug, other specified or unspecified obesity.
Unspecified obesity
Obesity without further specification of BMI or cause.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
BMI documented?
Yes
BMI >= 40?
No
Insufficient documentation for morbid obesity. Query physician.
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Morbid Obesity |
Severe Obesity |
Obesity |
Inaccurate BMI documentation or coding leading to incorrect morbid obesity diagnosis (E66.01) and impacting reimbursement.
Insufficient documentation of obesity-related comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, diabetes) affecting severity and coding accuracy.
Coding obesity as unspecified (E66.9) instead of morbid obesity when documentation supports E66.01, causing undercoding.
Patient presents with morbid obesity, clinically significant obesity, or severe obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or a BMI of 35 or greater with obesity-related comorbidities. The patient's current BMI is [Insert BMI value]. Weight management history includes [Insert prior weight loss attempts, diets, programs, surgeries, medications]. Comorbidities related to obesity include [List comorbidities such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and any other relevant conditions]. The patient reports [Insert patient's chief complaint related to obesity, e.g., shortness of breath, joint pain, difficulty with mobility]. Physical examination reveals [Insert relevant physical findings, e.g., abdominal adiposity, elevated blood pressure]. Assessment includes discussion of the health risks associated with morbid obesity and the need for weight loss intervention. Plan includes [Outline the treatment plan, including lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy options for weight loss if appropriate, and consideration for bariatric surgery. Specify referrals to registered dietitians, certified diabetes educators, or mental health professionals if applicable. Document patient education regarding healthy eating habits, portion control, physical activity recommendations, and the importance of adherence to the treatment plan]. Follow-up scheduled for [Insert date and time of next appointment] to monitor progress and adjust treatment as needed. ICD-10 code E66.01 (Morbid obesity) is documented for billing and coding purposes.