Who is a Candidate for Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is not for everyone. Even though it offers great potential, with that comes great risk. Bariatric surgery is a major medical procedure and surgeons must first be sure that all patients are a good candidate before moving forward with the surgery. The screening process for bariatric surgery is extensive and requires a lot of testing, both physically and mentally to be sure that the patient is indeed well prepared. Candidates are typically between the ages of 18 and 65, although some people younger may be eligible depending on conditions.

Primary Requirements

The initial requirements that all candidates can initially think about on their own are the following criteria.

• Have you made a serious effort to lose weight through healthy diet and exercise and have been unsuccessful? Be prepared to discuss what you tried with your doctor.
• Is your Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40? Over 40 is considered extremely obese.
• Is your Body Mass Index below 40 but above 30 and you have a health problem related to your weight such? Certain people can qualify if they have a health related medical condition and do not meet the BMI of 40 that is typically required for weight loss surgery.
  
  Some of the typical obesity related conditions include:
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Sleep Apnea
  • High Cholesterol
  • Family history of heart disease
  • Obesity Hypoventilation
  • Asthma
  • Disabling pain in your joints

Additional Factors Considered

Once you've met the basic requirements above you will then need to meet with your doctor to review all of the potential risks and complications that can arise. It is handling these risks as well as managing the expectations for how the patients life will change dramatically following bariatric surgery that will be the final determination of who can proceed with the procedure.

Your doctor will be looking to assess the patient in the following areas

• Your nutrition history and your weight level over time
• Your overall medical condition. You may need to have a weight related medical condition to qualify for surgery but certain medical conditions can be made worse by having the surgery. It will be up to your doctor to make the determination on a case by case basis.
• Your mental state. Patients will be evaluated to ensure that they are mentally prepared for all of the changes that will take place after the surgery. It will take a sound mind to be able to understand all of the changes and be able to properly stick to the necessary diet and exercise regimen that will come along with this surgery.
• How long have you been obese? If you have been obese with a BMI near or over 40 for 5 years or more, your doctor may be more inclined to recommend surgery than if you have been obese for a shorter time frame. This is because your doctor wants to ensure you have tried all other methods of weight loss first before undergoing surgery.

Once you meet the established criteria for all patients, your doctor will look to assess you personally by asking you a series of questions. These questions from your doctor are intended to ensure that you are truly ready for all that comes along with weight loss surgery and are fully committed to everything you will need to do in order to make it successful.