Eligibility Criteria

Health Resources:

Adult BMI Calculator Rather than relying on the bathroom scale to tell you if you're overweight, BMI takes into account your weight and height to indicate body fat. The goal for most people: a BMI that's over 18 and under 25.

Surgical weight loss patients must meet the following criteria:

• Age 18-65, male or female
• Willingness to comply with follow-up and diet changes
• Nonsmoker for at least 2 months
• Certain medical conditions and surgeries may make weight loss surgery too risky
• Body Mass Index* (BMI) of 40 to 60 with documented failed medical weight loss efforts
• Female patients are advised to wait 12 to 18 months after a gastric bypass before becoming pregnant

Which surgery is right for you?

The type of surgery you choose is not only a very personal decision that should be discussed between you and your family, but also one that requires the professional expertise and knowledge of your surgeon. Surgery to promote weight loss is a serious undertaking, and patients who have had surgery require close monitoring as well as life-long use of special foods and medications.

Weight loss surgery has shown to be an effective tool in weight loss, but it's only a tool. No method, including surgery, guarantees to produce and maintain weight loss. Success is possible only with your fullest cooperation and commitment to behavioral change and medical follow-up.