If you are morbidly obese and have tried diet and exercise to no avail, gastric sleeve surgery may be an option for you. This surgical procedure permanently reduces the size of your stomach so that you eat less and lose weight. However, not everyone is a candidate for this surgery. In order to qualify for gastric sleeve surgery, you must meet certain criteria. In this blog post, we will answer the question: do I qualify for gastric sleeve surgery?
First, Understanding the Body Mass Index (BMI)
The first step in determining if you qualify for gastric sleeve surgery is understanding your body mass index (BMI). BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. To calculate your BMI, divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. A BMI of 30 or above indicates obesity, while a BMI of 40 or above indicates morbid obesity. Morbidly obese individuals are those who are at the highest risk for developing obesity-related health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and type II diabetes.
What BMI Should Gastric Sleeve Candidates Have?
Who is a candidate for gastric sleeve surgery based on BMI alone? Most gastric sleeve candidates have a BMI of 40 or above. However, some insurance companies will cover the surgery for patients with a BMI as low as 30 if they have obesity-related health problems such as type II diabetes, sleep apnea, or high blood pressure. If you have a BMI below 40 and do not have any obesity-related health problems, you may still be eligible for surgery if you can demonstrate that you are at risk for developing comorbidities.
In Order to Qualify, Surgery Cannot Be Your First Option
In other words, you need to demonstrate that you have tried to lose weight through other methods without results. This may include diet, exercise, and weight-loss medication. If you have tried these methods and have not been successful in losing weight, gastric sleeve surgery may be an option for you.
You Must Be Healthy Enough to Tolerate Surgery
To qualify for gastric sleeve surgery, you must be healthy enough to tolerate the surgical procedure. This means that you cannot have any active medical conditions that would make surgery unsafe. For example, if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or are pregnant, you will not be able to have gastric sleeve surgery. If you are doubtful about this, you might have to undergo a few tests before weight loss surgery to ensure the procedure will be as safe as possible.
You Must Be Willing to Make Lifestyle Changes
Gastric sleeve surgery is not a quick fix for obesity. In order to lose weight and keep it off long-term, you must be willing to make lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly . If you are not willing to make these changes, you are not a good candidate for gastric sleeve surgery.
These are the criteria that you need to meet in order to qualify for gastric sleeve surgery. If you think you may be a candidate for this procedure, talk to our doctors about whether or not gastric sleeve surgery in Lubbock is the right option for you.
Get a primer on the procedure by reading Gastric Sleeve Surgery and What You Should Know About It.
