Qualifying for Weight Loss Surgery

Obesity can be a life threatening disease and it affects a quarter of all Americans. The rate of obesity has increased more than sixty percent in the last ten years and it is estimated that this rate will continue to increase. Being overweight contributes to about 300,000 deaths each year and is the second leading cause of death after smoking. Obesity can cause many health issues such as joint problems, cancer, arthritis, stokes, sleep apnea, hypertension and diabetes. Those who are considered morbidly obese, or those who are 100 pounds or more overweight can often qualify for weight loss surgery.

For many people, conventional methods of dieting and exercise do not help when it comes to losing weight. Many medications fail to help those who are morbidly obese as well. In addition, those who are overweight may lose weight, but may have difficulties in sustaining that weight loss over a long period of time. Weigh loss surgery is one way that many people can look to lose the excess weight.

If non-surgical methods have not worked, weight loss surgery is another option. There are several ways that these weight loss surgeries are performed. These types of surgeries often allow those who are very overweight to lose the excess weight over a certain period of time by restricting food intake. However, this life changing surgery is not right for everyone. Not everyone is a candidate for the weight loss surgeries.

Those who are eligible for weight loss surgery must be eighteen years of age or older. Children are not good candidates because their bodies are still growing and developing. Another indication of being a good weight loss candidate is if your body mass index is forty or greater or if you weigh twice as much as your ideal weight or are at least 100 pounds overweight. Doctors will carefully calculate a patient BMI and consider each person’s individual case. Another reason that a person may be a good candidate for this surgery is if the person has a history of being overweight. Generally, you must be overweight for at least five years to be considered for this surgery. Those that gain weight after having a baby or other times in their life will not be considered.

In addition, a person that wants to have weight loss surgery needs to have made serious attempts at losing weight through diet modification and exercise. This lets doctors know that the person is serious about their weight and will make the necessary changes after the surgery. Weight loss surgery is a lifetime commitment and patients must be willing to make those changes in their lives. These patients also must be willing to be monitored by a doctor on a long-term basis to assess the success of the surgery. Those who are good weight loss surgery candidates also must be healthy. Patients should not be suffering from diseases that have caused the weight gain. Patients also must not drink alcohol after the surgery. This can lead to serious problems after the weight loss surgery is performed.