Am I a candidate for Bariatric Surgery?

The National Institute of Health has set forth guidelines as to which individuals are likely to benefit from bariatric surgery. Large and small insurance carriers, as criteria for coverage and approval, have largely accepted these guidelines:

• Age 18 years or older
• BMI > 40
• BMI between 35-39 with associated medical conditions related to obesity
• Documentation of physician or professionally supervised weight loss programs has been attempted and has been unsuccessful.

Additional exclusion criteria have also been established and have largely been agreed upon by the majority of practicing bariatric surgeons:

• Uncontrolled mental illness
• Active substance abuse
• Suicidal ideation
• Active cancer
• Inability to understand the procedures and the lifestyle changes necessary for success