Eligibility Criteria

According to National Institutes of Health (NIH) indications, surgical therapy should be considered for those who:

• Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 40, or
• Have a BMI greater than 35 with significant co-morbidities (coexisting medical problems), and
• Can show that dietary attempts at weight control have been ineffective.

Assessment of overweight involves the use of three key measures:

• Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Waist circumference
• Risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity

BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height, while waist circumference measures abdominal fat. Combining these with information about your additional risk factors yields your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases.

What is Your Risk?

1. Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits. The limits are:

• It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
• It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.

Use the BMI to estimate your total body fat. The BMI score means the following:

2. Waist Circumference

Determine your waist circumference by placing a measuring tape snugly around your waist. It is a good indicator of your abdominal fat, which is another predictor of your risk for developing risk factors for heart disease and other diseases. This risk increases with a waist measurement of over 40 inches in men and over 35 inches in women

3. Other Risk Factors

Besides being overweight or obese, there are additional risk factors to consider:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)
• Low HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)
• High triglycerides
• High blood glucose (sugar)
• Family history of premature heart disease
• Physical inactivity
• Cigarette smoking

4. Assessment

For people who are considered obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30) or those who are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9) and have two or more risk factors, the NIH guidelines recommend weight loss.

Remember that weight-loss surgery is only indicated for those who have a BMI of greater than 40 or a BMI greater than 35 with signifant risk factors.