How do you know you are obese? Body Mass Index (BMI) is the recommended practical approach to assess an individual’s body fat. It provides a more accurate measure of total body fat compared with body weight. BMI is a measure of weight in relation to height:
Check your BMI
Surgery should be considered, if the individual meets the following criteria as outlined by the National Institutes of Health:
BMI greater than 40
BMI 35 kg/m or grater with significant co-morbidities
Severe sleep apnea
Severe diabetes mellitus
Cardiopulmonary
Disabling arthritis
Well-informed and highly motivated to lose the weight
Evidence/History of previous attempts or motivation to lose weight
Understanding the risks and benefits
Committed to lifelong lifestyle change and long-term follow-up care
Documented non-surgical attempts at weight loss
Absence of drug or alcohol problems
Evaluation by a multidisciplinary team (medical, surgical, internist, psychiatric and dietitian)
People who would not be considered or eligible for surgery are:
Pregnant women
Alcoholics and drug addicts
People who have a life expectancy of only a few years (over 65 years of age)
Extremely young children
Unmotivated to commit to lifelong lifestyle change
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