Gastric Bypass Surgery: Am I Eligible?

In determining your eligibility for gastric bypass surgery, your body mass index (BMI) must be taken into consideration. This is a scientific measurement of your weight versus your height to determine if there is a weight problem. A BMI of 40 or higher is considered to be extremely obese.

With a BMI of 40 or more, most patients' excess weight will equate to 100 lbs for men and 80 lbs for women. If you have pre-existing medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, or sleep apnea, a BMI of 35 may be sufficient to qualify for bariatric surgery.

How to Get a Recommendation for the Gastric Bypass Surgery

There are many options for achieving weight loss and one of these is undergoing a gastric bypass surgical procedure. If you are considering this procedure, it would be wise to see your doctor first. Your doctor can offer you professional advice with regard to issues and concerns about gastric bypass surgery and other methods of treatment you may want to look into.

Once your doctor has recommended weight loss surgery, he/she will provide a referral to a specialist in gastric bypass for obese individuals. This professional is called a bariatric surgeon. Even with the recommendation, the surgeon will still put you through diagnostic tests and medical history review to validate your qualifications. Once he/she has done this, and believes surgery to be your best option, you will be scheduled for the gastric bypass.

There will be steps before the doctor can determine if you are a qualified candidate. He will review your history of weight and weight loss, as well as go over your entire medical history. Taken into account will be such things as your weight, age, existing health issues (especially if you have diabetes), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease or sleep apnea. They will want to know a full history of your past weight-loss attempts, what types of prescription and non-prescription medications you take, and whether you have ever participated in any weight loss programs that were supervised by a medical professional.

Gastric Bypass Surgery as an Option

Contrary to popular opinion, gastric bypass is not a miracle weight loss procedure. To gain the full effectiveness of the procedure, the patient will have to make serious lifestyle changes. There will be diet and exercise programs to start, which require a significant commitment.

If you feel you meet the needed criteria and are committed to making a life-long change, then a weight loss surgery could be the best treatment option to aid you in shedding unwanted pounds. Many insurance companies now offer coverage to qualified patients for this type of procedure. It is a process, a process that starts with making the appointment with your primary care doctor, and there is no better time than now.