Your first step would be to calculate your Body Mass Index or BMI, a measure of height and weight. For weight loss surgery, most people should be approximately 100 pounds over their ideal body weight and have a BMI of 40 or greater. At this level of obesity, many people have serious health risks from their weight. However, many insurance companies will allow weight loss surgery for individuals with a BMI in the 35.0 – 35.9 range if they suffer from other significant obesity-related illnesses.
Those considering surgery, also need to be non-smokers (no smoking within two months of surgery) and must not have untreated mental illness or chemical dependency concerns. You can learn more about the various qualifications for surgery at our free introductory information sessions.
A commitment to lifestyle changes is also an important requirement. Weight loss surgery will change your relationship with food and how you eat permanently. If you are not ready for change, or are unwilling to change, an operation may not be right for you. You’ll want to check with your medical insurance company about insurance qualification.
