Is Surgery For You?

Most people with severe obesity make repeated, unsuccessful attempts to lose weight. Many enter a cycle of continuously losing and gaining weight. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Conference on Obesity has stated that obesity is a serious, disabling and common disease, and that surgery is an appropriate treatment for severe obesity.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has established guidelines for people considering surgery for life-threatening obesity. You may be a surgery candidate if:

· You are unlikely to lose weight or keep it off long term with non-surgical measures

· You are well informed about the procedure and the effects of treatment

· You are determined to lose weight and improve your health

· You are aware of how your life may change after the operation

· You know about the risks of complications, the dietary restrictions and the occasional failures

· You are committed to lifelong healthy eating and physical activity habits, medical follow-up, and nutritional supplementation

Additional factors the surgeon will consider include a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more – about 100 pounds overweight for men and 80 pounds for women – or a BMI between 35 and 39.9 when a serious obesity-related health problem exists, such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease or severe sleep apnea.

It is important to understand that bariatric surgery is not a magic bullet and does not guarantee permanent weight loss. Success is achieved only by patients who are ready and willing to make a lifelong commitment to behavioral changes and medical follow-up.