Have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, or have a BMI between 35 and 40 and a condition related to obesity, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnea. Weigh less than 450 pounds, the maximum weight that hospital radiology equipment can support. The number most bariatric surgeons are looking for is a BMI greater than 35 with at least one comorbidity, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. That's when the conversation about surgery usually starts.
Those with a BMI of 35 approximately 60 pounds overweight for their height or more meet the National Institute of Health (NIH) criteria for bariatric surgery. Duke Regional Hospital is accredited by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery for its high standards of care in weight-loss surgery. For the first six months after having weight-loss surgery, patients usually no longer need to take medication for these conditions. Depending on the type or severity of an obesity-related illness, some adults or teens with a lower BMI may have weight-loss surgery.
Research supports the benefits of weight-loss surgery for people with a BMI between 35 and 39.9 with obesity-related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and other obesity-related conditions. A long-term Swedish study compared obese people who underwent surgery to those who controlled their weight with diet and exercise alone. Rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies associated with bariatric surgery make pregnancy very dangerous for you and your developing fetus. Doctors often save this operation for people who have more weight to lose, because a lot of nutrients are lost.
Torquati and the Rush Center for Weight Loss %26 Bariatric Surgery team build a life-support system for the patient, including your surgeon, primary care physician, nutritionist and psychologist. To be eligible for bariatric surgery, you must be between 16 and 70 years of age (with some exceptions) and be morbidly obese (weigh at least 100 pounds above your ideal body weight and have a BMI of 40). Your body mass index (BMI) is a calculation that helps determine a healthy body weight based on your height. Bariatric surgery has an excellent long-term history of helping morbidly obese people lose weight.
Most patients will lose 66 to 80 percent of their excess body weight, most of which is lost 18 to 24 months after bariatric surgery. Use the table below to see what category your BMI is in and if you need to worry about your weight. Your doctor may ask you to do some things before surgery, such as stopping smoking, losing some weight, and making sure your blood sugar level is under control. Weight loss is important, your body is also undergoing hormonal changes, which increases your fertility.
You'll work closely with a nutritionist who is familiar with weight-loss surgery to develop an eating plan.
