Weight-Loss Surgery - Find Out If You Are a Good Candidate

Today, a growing number of obese people are opting for weight-loss surgery procedures, as a sure shot way to lose fat quickly and say hello to life.

But, is everyone a candidate for weight-loss surgery? The answer is No. Not everyone who is overweight is an acceptable candidate for weight-loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery or obesity surgery.

Surgical procedures for weight reduction are intended for people who are severely obese. The surgical interventions to lose unwanted bulges work by reducing intake of food and absorption of calories.

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As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), a person is considered overweight and obese if he or she has accumulated abnormal or excessive fat in the body, to an extent that may negatively affect overall health.

Body mass index is a measurement of body fat based on an individual's weight and height. It is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. While a person with a BMI greater than or equal to 30 is generally considered obese, a BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered overweight. A person is considered morbidly obese if he or she has a BMI greater than 40.

Being overweight or obese may not only lower your self-esteem but can increase your risk of cardiovascular diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke), diabetes and cancers.

Bariatric surgery is currently the only effective therapy for morbid obesity, meaning a person must have a BMI of 40 or higher to qualify for obesity surgery.

While only a professional, qualified bariatric physician or surgeon can suggest you if you are a good candidate for weight-loss surgery, there are general guidelines that most surgeons and insurance companies adhere to when recommending surgical obesity treatment to obese patients.

Getting weight-loss surgery is a major, life-changing decision and it could be an option for you if your efforts to shed those extra pounds with conventional, non-surgical measures like strict diet and regular physical exercise have been unsuccessful.

A surgical intervention is considered appropriate for you if you have failed to remove the weight naturally using traditional methods of losing fat or maintain adequate clinically beneficial body weight for at least 6 months.

You should be considered for surgical interventions for your weight issues if your body mass index is 40 or higher (severe obesity). You can be an appropriate candidate for surgery if your BMI is 35 to 39.9 (obesity), and you have any serious weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or severe sleep apnea.

In some cases, specific type of weight-loss surgery may also be worthwhile for those whose BMI exceeds 30 and are at risk of developing life-threatening diseases because of their weight.

Also, you can be considered for surgical obesity treatment if you are suffering from obesity caused by genetic factors.

When it comes to weight-loss surgery, age matters a lot. People between 18 and 65 years are good candidates for weight reduction surgery. In some cases, adolescents under the age of 18 can be considered potential bariatric surgery candidates - depending on their weight, height and risks associated to their overall health such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart problems, and psychological problems.

Although the above mentioned guidelines are sufficient to identify the potential candidates for bariatric surgery, your situation still needs to be carefully evaluated by your doctor before determining if you are a candidate for weight-loss surgery.

If you are morbidly obese and considering undergoing the knife to get rid of that ugly unwanted body fat, consulting a qualified doctor or surgeon before zeroing down on any weight-loss treatment is always a wise idea. Your doctor can better assess your situation and tell you if any surgical treatment for morbid obesity is an option for you.