Bariatric Surgery

Am I Obese?  Who Is a Candidate for Bariatric Surgery?

Are you ready to transform your health? Knowing if you meet medical guidelines for bariatric surgery is an early step in your bariatric surgery decision-making process.

The guidelines for bariatric surgery are brief and fairly simple. Surgeons use the guidelines established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) when considering treatment options for patients. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines. An experienced surgeon or other healthcare professional will evaluate each patient using a larger set of criteria.

NIH Guidelines for Recommending Bariatric Surgery
Patients should have:

• 100 pounds or more of excess weight; or a BMI of 40 or greater
• A BMI of 35 or greater with one or more co-morbid conditions

Your body mass index (BMI) correlates to the amount of fat in a person’s body.  BMI can be determined by calculating a person’s height relative to their weight. 

• An adult with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight
• An adult with a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese
• An adult with a BMI of 40 or higher is considered morbidly obese

An adult with a BMI of 40 or higher increases their risks of developing serious health problems which can result in death. Use the calculator or chart below to determine your BMI.