Who Benefits from Bariatric Surgery

People who are considered morbidly obese may be candidates for bariatric surgery if they:

• Are age 18 to 60.
• Are more than 100 pounds over their ideal weight.
  
• Have a BMI (Body Mass Index) greater than 40 or greater than 35 with other medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea or other health problems related to morbid obesity.
  
• Have a history of failure to control weight through other methods such as diet and exercise.

Patients who are morbidly obese are far less likely to respond to diets than people who are less severely overweight. At the same time, they are more likely to develop serious, disabling health problems and encounter social and employment difficulties.