Candidates For Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery is recommended for those persons
who are 90 pounds or more overweight and have or are
likely to have medical complications that will be
helped, and in many instances, cured by substantial
weight loss. While weight loss surgery is not for
everyone, there are a large number of patients for whom
losing a lot of weight is imperative, including those
suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart
trouble, shortness of breath, arthritis and orthopedic
(bone) problems with their legs, hips or back. Weight
loss surgery actually fails in those persons who drink
large quantities of regular soft drinks, consume sweets,
ice cream, chips and fatty fried foods. If you are one
of these people and feel you cannot switch to diet
drinks and cut out sweets and fried foods then gastric
bypass surgery is not for you.
Do I qualify for Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Physicians and healthcare professionals commonly use the
'Body Mass Index' (BMI) as a way of helping to determine
obesity. BMI is a number calculated by dividing a
person's weight in kilograms by his or her height in
square meters. Although a patient's BMI cannot be used
to determine actual percentage of body fat or overall
health condition, it is a means of categorizing weight
in terms of nationally recognized standards. These
standards - derived from years of research and data -
are based on the probability of whether or not a person
will be healthy or unhealthy as they age.
A Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 is by definition
morbid obesity. Lesser BMI may be morbid if associated
by serious co-morbidities.
Body Mass Index standards are:
