So, You're Considering Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery to treat morbid obesity is being performed more often all the time. Maybe you've wondered if you are a candidate for weight loss surgery and how you can find out more information about it. Just who qualifies to have weight loss surgery?

Obviously, weight loss surgery is a serious consideration reserved for more extreme cases of obesity. Generally you must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more to be considered morbidly obese. That is roughly 100 pounds of excess weight and up. A BMI of 35 or more will be considered if there are co-morbid conditions present like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint problems or diabetes. The Body Mass Index is a calculation that considers your weight in terms of your height. You can check yours here. You should also have an extensive history of diet and exercise to show that you have attempted to control your weight.

If you think you meet these qualifications for weight loss surgery, here are some things you can do.

Check with your insurance provider
First you need to know if your health insurance covers weight loss surgery. Many do but others exclude weight loss surgery either totally or allow it only in cases of proven medical necessity. You will want to know where you stand on coverage before proceeding any further. Contact your benefits department or your provider directly.

Research the Options
This is the most important step of all. There are numerous kinds of weight loss surgeries available: RNY, Duodenal Switch, Lap Band, Sleeve Gastrectomy. You should be familiar with each type of weight loss surgery, what the pros and cons of each one are and which one would be a good fit for your situation. It cannot be stressed enough that you must research the options of weight loss surgery thoroughly. You are considering permanently altering your anatomy. You are responsible for making an informed choice. One helpful website is obesityhelp.com. There you will find not only factual information and links to specific surgery sites, but a community of forums with people in all stages of the process of weight loss surgery.