Surgery Criteria

What are the criteria for patients considering surgery for obesity or bariatric surgery?

Obesity is very difficult to treat.  Many patients have tried multiple diets, medications and exercise regimes that had results that did not last.  Surgery to promote weight loss by restricting food intake and interrupting digestive processes is an option for clinically severe obese patients that have been unsuccessful with other weight loss treatments.

Eligible weight loss patients for weight loss surgery often have a body mass index, or BMI, of 40 or greater.  A BMI of 40 translates to about 100 pounds over ideal body weight for men or 80 pounds over ideal body weight for women. 

Weight loss surgery may also be an option for people with a BMI of 30 or greater who suffer from progressive life-threatening obesity related health problems such as diabetes, obesity-related heart disease or severe sleep apnea.  However, as is true for other treatments for obesity, successful results depend significantly on knowledge, personal motivation and behavior.