Who is Eligible for Surgery?

Deciding who is an appropriate candidate for weight loss surgery is a balance between considering the short and long term risks of the operation and the medical risk and quality of life impairment of morbid obesity. Generally speaking, the higher the body mass index (BMI), the more there is to gain medically from surgery but a number of other factors need to be taken into account. Each patient is comprehensively and individually assessed

Patients usually qualify for weight loss surgery if they have:

BMI over 40 kg/m2
BMI over 35 kg/m2 with medical conditions linked to obesity, such as type II diabetes or obstructive sleep apnoea
Patients with BMI 30 - 35 kg/m2 with poorly controlled type II diabetes may also be considered
Patients outside these BMI ranges may occasionally be considered on an individual basis (for instance, those of asian background are at risk for medical problems at a lower BMI range)

Factors which may count against consideration include:

Untreated hormonal disorder such as underactive thyroid or Cushing's disease
Severe psychiatric or cognitive disorder
Previous stomach, oesophageal or abdominal surgery depending on the nature of the surgery
Poor medical fitness (e.g. cardiac failure)
Patients who cannot or will not commit to regular clinic attendance to ensure their ongoing safety from a nutritional and operative point of view
Patients under 18 or over 65 years considered only in unique cases
Alcoholism or drug addiction