Gastric
Bypass
Surgery
Candidates
Candidates For Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery is recommended for those
persons who are 90 pounds or more overweight and
have or are likely to have medical complications
that will be helped, and in many instances,
cured by substantial weight loss. While weight
loss surgery is not for everyone, there are a
large number of patients for whom losing a lot
of weight is imperative, including those
suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure,
heart trouble, shortness of breath, arthritis
and orthopedic (bone) problems with their legs,
hips or back. Weight loss surgery actually fails
in those persons who drink large quantities of
regular soft drinks, consume sweets, ice cream,
chips and fatty fried foods. If you are one of
these people and feel you cannot switch to diet
drinks and cut out sweets and fried foods then
gastric bypass surgery is not for you.
Do I qualify for Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Physicians and healthcare professionals commonly
use the 'Body Mass Index' (BMI) as a way of
helping to determine obesity. BMI is a number
calculated by dividing a person's weight in
kilograms by his or her height in square meters.
Although a patient's BMI cannot be used to
determine actual percentage of body fat or
overall health condition, it is a means of
categorizing weight in terms of nationally
recognized standards. These standards — derived
from years of research and data — are based on
the probability of whether or not a person will
be healthy or unhealthy as they age.
A Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 is by
definition morbid obesity. Lesser BMI may be
morbid if associated by serious co-morbidities.
Body Mass Index standards are:
-
BMI 18.5 to 24.9 Healthy
-
BMI 25 to 29.9 Overweight
-
BMI 30 to 39.9 Obese
-
BMI 40 to 49.9 Morbidly Obese
-
BMI 50 or higher Super Obese
Answering the question "Am I Morbidly Obese?"
may give you the courage you need to take the
first step towards gastric bypass surgery.
Below, we've included a BMI Calculator and an
Ideal Body Weight Chart you can use to determine
if you are morbidly obese. (However, BMI is only
one of many factors we consider when determining
whether or not a patient is a good candidate for
weight loss surgery.) You may be a good
candidate for surgery if:
-
You are 100 pounds or more over your
healthy (ideal) body weight
-
You have a BMI of 40 or more
-
You have a BMI of 35 or more and have
serious health problems, such as diabetes
or heart disease, that are caused by your
excess weight
|
