Who is a candidate for Bariatric Surgery?
According to guidelines developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to be a candidate for bariatric surgery a person must have a BMI over 40 (or a BMI over 35 with serious co-morbidities). The NIH also identified other factors that indicate bariatric surgery may be the best course of treatment. These factors include: The person's willingness to adhere to a lifelong modification in daily diet and exercise, psychological stability, and the presence of an effective social support system. Candidates for surgical treatment also must have previously attempted to lose weight by dietary and lifestyle modifications.