What’s a comorbidity? My mother-in-law was told she has too many comorbidities to have surgery at this time. She is very overweight. Is this a new medical term for obesity?

Obesity is an example of a comorbidity. Comorbidities are diseases, illnesses, and conditions present in someone with another problem as well. For example, say a patient
has a torn rotator cuff of the shoulder. The same patient also has a peptic ulcer, asthma, and heartburn. These extra problems are comorbidities.

Many aging adults have two or more comorbidities. They are said to have “multiple comorbidities.” Some of the most common are arthritis, low back pain, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and cancer.