Am I a Candidate?

The minimum qualification to be considered a surgery candidate is a body weight 100 pounds above that considered ideal for a given height, or a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater. A BMI of 35 or higher qualifies if the patient also has an obesity–related health condition that creates a medical need for weight reduction which can only be accomplished through surgery.

Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person's weight is greater than what's considered healthy for his or her height.

Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might tip the balance include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods and not being physically active.

Being obese increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and some cancers. If you are obese, losing even 5 to 10 percent of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Health Risks and Related Conditions

Weighing too much may increase your risk for developing many health problems. If you are overweight or obese, you may be at risk for:

• type 2 diabetes
• coronary heart disease and stroke
• high blood pressure
• elevated cholesterol levels
• sleep apnea
• metabolic syndrome
• fatty liver disease
• osteoarthritis
• gallbladder disease
• certain types of cancer
• pregnancy complications

You may be able to lower your health risks by losing weight, doing regular physical activity, and eating healthfully.

In addition to weight loss, bariatric surgery may improve or resolve many of these conditions. The improvements observed in type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol may significantly decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Gastric bypass surgery can also improve your ability to get around, and improve your quality of life.