Bariatric Surgery: Am I a Good Candidate?

Are you suffering from health-related problems and over 100 pounds overweight? Are you between the ages of 20 – 60? You may be a candidate for bariatric surgery.

The body mass index (BMI) measures both height and weight and helps to determine whether patients are candidates for bariatric surgery. Patients with a BMI of 40 or more are candidates for bariatric surgery. Patients with a BMI of 35 or more who are also experiencing weight-related health issues are also candidates for bariatric surgery.

Are weight-related health problems a factor?

Health issues should also be factored in when considering bariatric surgery. Obesity surgery reduces, reverses, or eliminates many of the following conditions in most patients:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Sleep apnea
• Weight-related arthritis or joint pain
• Weight-related respiratory disease
• Reflux disease
• Serious diseases caused or aggravated by moderate or morbid obesity

Should I consider bariatric surgery?

Consider bariatric surgery if any of the following apply to you:

• You have a BMI of 35 or above and an illness from the list above.
• You are physically restricted from doing routine daily activities because of your weight.
• You are medically disabled because of your weight.
• You are over 100 pounds overweight or have a BMI over 40 and no other weight loss method has worked.

and

• You have no other serious medical conditions.
• You have no unstable or untreated psychological disorders or illnesses.
• You do not drink alcohol in excess, nor have you smoked or abused drugs within a year prior to surgery.
• You are motivated and committed to the life-long health and lifestyle changes that accompany bariatric surgery.
• You are willing to follow up your treatment with your bariatric doctor and dietician regularly after surgery.

Note: If you are older than 60 or younger than 20, your bariatric surgeon will discuss the special considerations of bariatric surgery and age with you at your consultation.

Listen to your doctor

Patients turn to bariatric surgery when all other weight loss methods have failed. Bariatric surgery has a high success rate, but surgery is not an easy thing, and therefore requires complete commitment on your part to follow your doctor’s orders and weight-loss plans following your surgery. Like all other surgeries, major risks are involved. Be sure to follow your surgeon’s advice carefully, both pre- and post-surgery.

Find out more about bariatric surgery

For more information on bariatric surgery, browse the menu options above. To find a bariatric surgeon near you, use our bariatric surgeon locator.