Candidates for weight loss surgery

Approximately 58 million people suffer from the adverse health effects, emotional turmoil and social stigma associated with weighing 100 or more pounds over ideal body weight.

Certain physical and emotional conditions can cause an elevated level of obesity risk. We offer a series of tests to determine if you are a candidate for surgery, while also examining your medical history.

Severe obesity may increase your risk of:

• Certain forms of cancer
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Gallbladder disease
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Infertility
• Osteoarthritis
• Sleep apnea
• Stroke

But losing the weight is often easier said than done. Fad diets, magic pills — if you struggle with obesity, you’ve seen it all. Everything except results. Weight loss surgery can help you reach and maintain your goal weight, alleviate other health problems, and ultimately—change your life forever.

Body mass index (BMI) calculation

An important determining factor for weight loss surgery is your BMI. It is a numerical expression of the ratio of our weight to your height. This number will determine if you are overweight and, if so, by how much. Your weight loss team will use your BMI and other factors to determine if you are a candidate for weight loss surgery and which option would best suit you.

You might be a candidate if:

• Your BMI is 40 or higher
• Your BMI is over 35 and you have one or more obesity related conditions, or
• You are 100 pounds over your ideal weight

The following tool may be helpful in helping you determine whether or not surgical weight loss is right for you.