Several codes are used to identify overweight and obesity, including the following:
E66.01 Morbid (severe) obesity due to excess calories
E66.09 Other obesity due to excess calories
E66.1 Drug-induced obesity
E66.2 Morbid (severe) obesity with alveolar hypoventilation
E66.3 Overweight
E66.8 Other obesity
E66.9 Obesity, unspecified
These codes are assigned only on the basis of the physician?s diagnostic statement. Category E66, Overweight and obesity, requires that an additional code (Z68.-) for the body mass index (BMI) be assigned, if known. BMI is a tool for indicating weight status in adults. It is a measure of weight for height. The BMI code assignment should be based on medical record documentation, which may be found in the notes of other clinicians involved in the care of the patient (i.e., physician or other qualified health care practitioner legally accountable for establishing the patient?s diagnosis). BMI is typically documented by the dietitian or the nurse. Coding BMI is an exception to the guideline that requires that code assignment be based on the documentation by the provider. While BMI may be reported on the basis of another clinician?s documentation, the codes for the associated diagnosis (such as overweight and obesity) should be based on the provider?s documentation.