Has weight been an ongoing struggle in your life? Are you tired of yo-yo dieting? Have you tried every diet and fitness trend out there without the results you’ve been hoping for? If you can answer “yes” to any of those questions, it may be time to consider bariatric surgery to help kickstart your weight loss and get you on the right track toward a healthier you.

Making the decision to undergo weight loss surgery is the first step. The next step is determining your eligibility for bariatric surgery. Finally, you should explore the weight loss surgery options with your weight loss doctor. Here are the qualifications that may make you eligible for bariatric surgery.

Body Mass Index

The first consideration as to a patient’s qualification for weight loss surgery is the patient’s body mass index, or BMI. This number is a ratio based on your body weight and height. BMI ranges for men and women are as follows:

• BMI less than 18.5 – Underweight
• BMI 18.5 to 24.6 – Normal weight
• BMI 25 to 29.0 – Overweight
• BMI 30 or more – Obese

Use this tool to calculate your BMI.

Insurance Coverage

If you are hoping that your health insurance company will cover the cost of gastric bypass surgery or another gastric surgery procedure, certain requirements apply. These typically include (but are not limited to):

• BMI of 40 or more; or more than 100 pounds overweight.
• BMI of 35 or more and at least one or more obesity-related co-morbidities, including:
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Lipid abnormalities
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Heart disease
• Inability to achieve and sustain a healthy weight with prior weight loss efforts.

In addition to weight and other existing obesity-related health conditions, a psychological evaluation and nutritional counseling are often required by insurance. At McCarty Weight Loss Center, each patient is carefully evaluated and eligibility is determined based on the patient’s individual risk factors. Should you choose to move forward with the process, we offer a variety of weight loss surgery options, including: gastric bypass surgery, McCarty Mini Sleeve and bariatric surgical revisions.

Are you ready to take the next step? Contact McCarty Weight Loss Center today to learn more about our weight loss surgery options and to find out if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery.