Bariatric Surgery Guidelines:
Are you ready to transform your health? Knowing if you meet medical guidelines for bariatric surgery is an early step in your bariatric surgery decision-making process.
The guidelines for bariatric surgery are brief and fairly simple. Surgeons use the guidelines established by the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) when considering treatment options for patients. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines. An experienced surgeon or other healthcare professional will evaluate each patient using a larger set of criteria.
NIH Guidelines for Recommending Bariatric Surgery1
Patients should have:
· 100 pounds or more of excess weight; or a BMI of 40 or greater
· A BMI of 30 or greater with one or more co-morbid conditions
Other Common Guidelines
· Understanding the risks of bariatric surgery
· Committing to dietary and other lifestyle changes as recommended by the surgeon
· Having a history of weight loss treatments having failed the patient
· Undergoing a complete examination including medical tests