If you are significantly overweight, and diet and exercise are not doing the trick, you may be considering weight-loss surgery. You will need to discuss this option with your doctor to determine if this procedure is right for you. As with any type of surgery, there are always risks you must carefully consider. Due to these risks, there are certain requirements established by the National Institutes of Health that may be required before you and your doctor can consider bariatric surgery.
Morbid Obesity
The main qualification to have bariatric surgery is that you have a body mass index of 40 or above. This also means that you are at least 100 lbs. overweight.
Failure or Noncompliance with Other Programs
Patients who are evaluated by a medical professional and judged to have a low chance of success with nonsurgical measures are usually considered. You may have a history of failure in established weight control programs or be reluctant to enter such a program.
You are at High Risk for Obesity-Related Diseases
If you have a high risk of life-threatening cardiopulmonary problems, Pickwickian syndrome, obesity-related cardiomyopathy, severe sleep apnea or severe diabetes mellitus, you may be a good candidate. If your obesity is severe enough that it is greatly inhibiting your lifestyle, employment, family function and ability to ambulate, surgery may be the answer.
Motivation to Change
Good candidates for this surgery should be well-informed and able to accept the risks listed below that are involved with this procedure. The patient needs to be motivated to take part in her own care, make the necessary lifestyle changes and be able and willing to participate in treatment and long-term follow-up.
You Must Understand the Risks
While most patients do well with this surgery, you need to understand that you are at risk for infections, dehiscence, leaks from staple breakdown, stomal stenosis, marginal ulcers and various pulmonary problems. Gastrointestinal leaks, deep venous thrombosis and death occur in some patients.
