Q: Am I a candidate for weight-loss surgery?
A: Weight-loss surgery is indicated for adults who have a body mass index above 40 (above 35 if you have obesity-related medical problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea). A BMI of 40 or more is considered morbidly obese, generally reflecting an excess of 75-100 pounds above an ideal weight. Use the online calculator at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi to determine your BMI. To be a candidate for surgery, you also have to have been overweight for several years, have tried to lose weight in the past and be willing to commit to some lifestyle changes and appropriate follow-up with the bariatric surgeon or clinic. Weight-loss surgery offers significant improvement in health, quality of life and life span but is not a cosmetic procedure.
– Dr. Jaime Ponce, director,
Memorial Hospital
Bariatric Surgery Program
Readers: To submit a question for a medical doctor, e-mail it to Clint Cooper at ccooper@timesfreepress.com. See this space each week for answers.