Refer to the BMI Calculator below to determine if you are possibly morbidly obese. Also review the general guidelines for surgery related to BMI, which are listed further down.
Medically speaking, a person is morbidly obese when he or she is so heavy that the fat tissue load creates damage to health. Individuals fit the definition of morbid obesity if they are about 100 pounds in excess of the Ideal Body Weight (IBW). A more exact way to define morbid obesity is to use the Body Mass Index (BMI).
The BMI is calculated as follows:
BMI = weight (kg)/height2(m2)
BMI levels can be broken down into several categories:
People who fall naturally into this range tend to have the best lifelong health. Note that a BMI of less than 25 is usually not a proper goal for a patient following bariatric surgery. Learn more about usual weight loss and target weights following bariatric surgery.
The excess weight creates a definite increase in medical problems.
Bariatric surgery is likely to improve health, if the person is experiencing a medical problem that is related to the excess weight.
The risk/benefit ratio favors surgical therapy in most people who suffer from this level of obesity.
The excess weight puts so much load on the body that there is a significant increase in the risk of surgery. At the same time the risk of surgery is higher, the risk of the medical problems caused by obesity is much higher. So the risk/benefit ratio of surgery usually still weighs in favor of surgery.
For patients with a BMI of greater than 40, it is usually fair to think of the excess weight as the actual underlying cause for most of the medical conditions outlined above. Surgical treatment of the obesity in such cases goes after the root of the problem. In obese patients, bariatric surgery is more effective therapy than any combination of medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, GERD, knee pain, and many other conditions.
Individuals who fall in this area are generally agreed to "qualify" for bariatric surgery on the basis of weight. "Qualify" means that for most people in this range, the ongoing risk of the weight is greater than the risk of surgery. NOTE: meeting the weight criteria is not the whole story. See Why Consider Surgery?
Individuals with a weight in this area may qualify for bariatric surgery on a weight basis, if they suffer from significant medical problems that are either caused or exacerbated by obesity. “Qualify" means that it may be medically reasonable to do weight loss surgery, though not all insurance companies support this opinion for patients in this weight range.
Bariatric surgery is not universally recommended for individuals with a BMI of less than 35, although in some cases a person’s weight at this level may yet create enough of a health risk to counterbalance the risk of surgery. If a bariatric surgical procedure is found to be reasonable in this weight range, the New Dimensions surgeons will usually recommend placement of an Adjustable Gastric Band, though Sleeve Gastrectomy may also be a good option.
Again please note that patients following Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) should not use the BMI health values or the "Ideal Weight" indicated in the calculator above to assess their success after surgery. Once a person has lived at a BMI of greater than 40, then getting to a BMI of less than 25 is usually not a healthy goal. See usual weight loss and target weights following bariatric surgery.
