Who is a candidate for bariatric surgery?

• Individuals who have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 which means they are at least 100 pounds over their ideal weight.
• Individuals with a BMI of 35 and also have coexisting medical problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, and/or kidney difficulties.
• Individuals who have made serious weight loss attempts such as physician describe diets, diet plans, etc., and have failed.

What is morbid obesity?
The condition is defined as weight greater than 100 pounds over "ideal body weight;" a Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to 40 kg/m2 or a BMI of 35 kg/m2 accompanied by life- threatening conditions related to obesity. Morbid obesity currently affects an estimated 5 to 10 million American adults.

What are the health risks associated with morbid obesity?
A significant health risk, morbid obesity leads to life-threatening conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, gallbladder disease, gynecologic cancer, high blood lipids, arthritis, sleep apnea and premature death.