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Whether you are a candidate for weight loss surgery is dependent upon two different types of considerations. The first are medical considerations and the others are just when you think "enough is enough" when it comes to your weight loss struggle. When you consider the medical considerations/criteria for weight loss surgery, they are straight-forward. The National Institutes of Health use the body mass index (BMI) of a patient to measure how significantly overweight you are based upon your height and weight. A BMI of 40 or higher automatically qualifies you based upon weight criteria alone while a BMI between 35 and 40 can also qualify you for weight loss surgery but you need a potentially life-threatening co-morbidity in order to qualify for surgery. These guidelines are recognized by most major insurance companies. Your BMI can be calculated using the BMI calculator listed below. Simply type in your height and weight.

In patients with a BMI of less than 35 who have been struggling with their weight for many many years, weight loss surgery may still be an option. Most surgeons consider surgery in patients with a BMI of 35 or less as being "experimental.” However there can be a strong argument made in such patients according to a recent and randomized prospective trial from Australia looking at patients who were treated with a BMI less that 35 with optimal medical therapy compared to those with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). LAGB was substantially better achieving significant, sustained weight loss compared to patients on the optimal medical therapy. Also, the lap band group was less likely to develop diseases related to obesity as compare dto the medical group Optimal medical therapy can be defined as exercise, behavioral and nutritional modifications in the addition of anorexic drugs (appetitie suppressants). Under optimal medical management, most of the time, patients either gained weight or lost a modest amount of weight in which there was no real definable degree of success. This landmark study demonstrated that there is a true value in operating upon patients of the body mass index less than 35. Unfortunately, most private insurance companies do not accept the criteria for a BMI< 35. Texas Bariatric Specialists offers surgical weight loss options with a BMI < 35. Options for such patients include less invasive procedures such as lap sleeve gastrectomy or laparoscopic adjustable gastric band.

BMI Calculator

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation derived from your height and weight. It is commonly used to categorize weight as follows:

Normal : BMI 18.0-24.9
Overweight : BMI 25.0-29.9
Obese : BMI 30.0-39.9
Morbidly Obese : BMI 40.0 or higher

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