Obesity and its related complications represent a serious threat to the health and happiness of many Americans. For some of those people, bariatric surgery—a broad term that encompasses several types of weight loss surgery—can be an effective way to improve health.

While the risks of bariatric surgery are just as low as the risks of gallbladder surgery, it is still important to determine who will benefit from surgery and ensure they are safe to have surgery. Determining who is and who is not qualified typically follows a simple formula. There are, however, exceptions, so be sure to ask your physician or bariatric surgeon if surgery is right for you. As a general rule, good candidates for bariatric surgery will demonstrate some of the following traits and behaviors.

Body Mass Index

A patient's body mass index, commonly referred to as BMI, is often what qualifies them for surgery. BMI is a ratio of your height to your weight. You can calculate your BMI using the chart below or using an online BMI calculator.

A BMI of 18.5-24.9 is considered a healthy weight. A BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight. A BMI greater than 30 is considered obese. A patient with a BMI greater than 35 may be a candidate for bariatric surgery and a patient with a BMI greater than 40 is almost always a candidate for surgery.

If your BMI is greater than 30, you should consider losing weight to better your health and improve your energy and lifestyle. If your BMI is greater than 35, you should consider bariatric surgery and discuss this with your physician or bariatric surgery.

Comorbidity

There is a long list of medical problems that are caused by obesity. Heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol; sleep apnea, arthritis and diabetes; thyroid disease, gallbladder and liver disease; depression, infertility and breast cancer; uterine cancer and other types of cancers as well. If you have any of these medical problems and your BMI is greater than 35, you are a candidate for surgery.

Difficulty Losing Weight

Most bariatric surgery patients have tried to lose weight on their own or with the assistance of a doctor, weight watchers or dietitian in the past. Unfortunately, these strategies don't work for everyone.

Most insurance companies want to see that patients have tried to lose weight without surgery before they qualify for surgery. If your BMI is greater than 35 and you have tried to lose weight in the past and been unsuccessful, you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery. Talk to your physician or surgeon to discuss your options.

General Qualifications

Even people that fulfill several of the common requirements for weight loss surgery should be given an extensive evaluation prior to being accepted as a surgical patient. This evaluation will assess an individual's overall physical health, emotional well-being and general ability to undergo and recover from surgery.

Doctors will also evaluate a patient's level of commitment to living a new, healthier lifestyle. These seemingly mundane precautions reduce the risks associated with surgery and increase the likelihood of achieving long-term success.

Health problems associated with obesity threaten both the life and the lifestyle of thousands of Americans. For some, bariatric surgery could be an effective method for obtaining a healthier lifestyle.

Before proceeding with surgical weight loss, however, it is important to be sure that an individual meets certain qualifications. Whether or not they easily satisfy the criteria described above, individuals considering bariatric surgery as a means of changing their lives should consult a surgical weight loss professional in order to obtain an expert evaluation. For suitable candidates, such an evaluation is the first step in a life-saving journey toward greater health and happiness.

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