Candidates for Gastric Bypass
If you are considering gastric bypass surgery, you are required to meet a number of criteria. In most cases, you must:
- Be at least 100 pounds overweight. You may qualify with a lesser weight if there are serious medical problems that may be corrected or greatly improved with significant weight loss.
- Have the intellectual capacity to understand and comply with the recommended postoperative program.
- Have a history of failing to lose weight or maintain weight loss on other diet programs.
- Not have any medical conditions that would make the surgical risks prohibitive or inappropriate.
- Demonstrate a willingness to engage in lifestyle and nutritional habits known to support weight loss.
- Have support from family, spouse, or close friends.
- Surgery is not recommended for the mentally ill or impaired, patients known to abuse alcohol or drugs, or those with an eating disorder such as bulimia.
Check Your Body Mass Index
