Am I a Candidate?

Am I a Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?

Typically, individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 35 may require Life Weight Loss surgery.

However, that figure can vary depending on your ethnic background. For example, fat distribution – the location of fat on the body – can vary across different ethnicities. These differences in typical fat distribution mean that a patient of Asian ethnicity may be a candidate for weight loss surgery if their BMI exceeds 30, while typically a Caucasian person would require their BMI to be over 35 before considering weight loss surgery as a legitimate health management strategy.

Regardless of your ethnic background, when your BMI exceeds 40, you are a certain candidate for weight loss surgery and should legitimately consider it. And you may qualify as a weight loss surgery candidate without even knowing it.

There are many factors that contribute to your suitability for a Life Weight Loss surgery, however one of the initial indicators is your Body Mass Index (BMI). Your BMI is a measurement of your body fat based on your height and weight. The following table details how your BMI score can be interpreted:

SCORE
<25	Your BMI is within a healthy range for your height.
25-30	Your results indicate you are above a healthy weight range. Losing weight can reduce your health risks and can improve existing health conditions.
30-40	Results show you are over the optimum weight for your height and your health is at risk. Talk to a health professional if you need support.
>40	Your results indicate that your BMI is in a very unhealthy range. Talk to a health professional if you need support.
>50	Your results indicate that your BMI is in a very unhealthy range. Talk to a health professional if you need support.

You may require Life Weight Loss surgery if the following are true:

You weigh more than your ideal body weight
Your BMI is over 35
Your age is above 18 years
You have a history of being overweight
Your earlier efforts to lose weight provided minimal results or short-term success
You do not have any other disease that may have caused your obesity, and you do not drink alcohol in excess

Why weight loss surgery candidates should act now

Beyond the direct health risks of obesity, there are a number of related health risks that individuals with obesity are exposed to. Opting to undergo weight loss surgery can help patients address these health concerns and lead to a better quality of life moving forward post-surgery. As well as increasing your quality of life on the whole, by electing to undergo a weight loss surgery procedure, you can greatly reduce your risk to the following diseases and conditions.

Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition in which the body becomes resistant to the normal effects of in-sulin and/or gradually loses the capacity to produce enough of it in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is associated with modifiable lifestyle risk factors, one of which is weight reduction. ¹

Hypertension

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a risk factor in many diseases, such as heart attack, kidney failure and stroke. Obesity is one of a number of causes that can cause hypertension. ²

Sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea occurs when the walls of the throat come together during sleep, blocking off the airway above the voice box. Your risk of sleep apnoea can be reduced via, amongst other things, weight loss, as accumulation of fat in the neck can contribute to sleep apnoea. ³

Dyslipidaemia

Dyslipidemia occurs when our blood lipid (fatty substances, such as triglycerides and cholesterol) levels are either too high or too low. Secondary dyslipidemia is caused by lifestyle factors or medical conditions that interfere with blood lipid levels over time. These factors include obesity, especially excess weight around the waist. ⁴

Joint problems

Being overweight can make arthritis, gout, lupus, fibromyalgia and other joint diseases and conditions worse.Osteoarthritis and has a logical link to obesity. The more weight that’s on a joint, the more stressed the joint becomes, and the more likely it will wear down and be damaged. ⁵

Infertility

The prevalence of obesity in infertile women is high, and it is well known that there is an association between obesity and infertility. ⁶