Candidates for gastric bypass surgery

Is Gastric Bypass Surgery for You?

Although gastric bypass surgery effectively confers weight loss to most people, it is a drastic means of weight loss. It is not a magic solution or a quick fix of obesity. You have to follow strict dietary guidelines and a regular exercise program for about 1-2 years after the surgery to lose noticeable amount of weight. More importantly, surgery has several risks and complications. It is right for only those individuals in whom obesity is posing a serious threat to general health and the overall benefits of the surgery offset its risks. Thus, before going for a surgery, decide circumspectly the profile of an ideal candidate of gastric bypass surgery and check all the questions for self-assessment.

Suitable Profile to Consider Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass may be right for you if you meet the criteria listed below:

• If your body mass index (BMI) exceeds 40, that is, about 100 pounds of surplus weight for men and about 80 pounds of surplus weight for women, you are morbidly obese and thus a candidate for gastric surgery.

• Your BMI is between 35 and 40 and you are afflicted with life-threatening heart problems, diabetes or severe sleep apnea.

• You have a history of repeated unsuccessful weight loss tries with dieting, exercise and other conventional weight loss methods (many surgeons may want you to produce proof of your ineffective attempts to lose weight before the surgery).

• Obesity is hindering with your normal activities such as walking, employment or household activities.

• You do not have any obvious hormonal or medical cause for your obesity. To rule out this possibility, you maybe asked to undergo examination of your hormonal and heart systems.

• You have a clear-cut knowledge of the risks and complications of the surgery and practical expectations of weight you can lose after the surgery.

• You are motivated and prepared to accept the complications of surgery.

• You are prepared to make remarkable lifelong changes in lifestyle including a drastic change eating habits and hindrance with the social features of eating and regular exercises after the surgery.

• You are not afflicted with any psychotic illness such as untreated schizophrenia; psychiatric conditions like borderline personality disorder or severe depression; nor should you be active on substance abuse.

Questions for Self-Assessment

The following questions may help you decide if gastric bypass surgery is right for you:

• Have you tried non-surgical weight loss methods such as calorie-controlled diet plans, food journals, nutritional counseling, exercise or weight reducing medicines and have been unsuccessful with them?

• Are you afflicted with obesity associated severe illnesses that are posing a serious threat to your survival?

• Are you aware of the surgical method and its risks and complications?

• Are you firm on losing weight?

• Are you aware and willing to live with changed lifestyle after the surgery?

• Are you ready for lifetime medical follow-up?

• Are you aware that gastric surgery is not always successful in losing weight?