Are You a Candidate?
Weight loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery, can be an effective tool for obese patients and is typically considered after all other diet options have failed.
Criteria for weight loss surgery include:
- 80 to 100 pounds overweight
- body mass index (BMI) greater or equal to 35, with one or more significant obesity-related conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol.
- BMI greater than 40, regardless of other medical conditions
- 16 to 70 years of age (with some exceptions)
- understands and accepts the operative risks
- history of multiple failed attempts with diet plans, behavioral, and medical therapy
- presence of realistic expectations and motivation
- capable of understanding the procedure and implications
- commitment to following the diet, vitamin supplementation, exercise program, and follow-up necessary for health and weight maintenance
These criteria are based on the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference, March 25-27, 1991. Gastrointestinal Surgery for Severe Obesity. Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1992:55:615s-9s.