The NIH (National Institute of Health) set forth some guidelines for weight loss surgery. These guidelines are followed by insurance to allow "coverage" for these procedures. If a person's BMI is 35 to 40 AND that person also has conditions associated with being overweight such as Diabetes and... more
Why am I not qualified for Bariatric surgery?
Why are there so many restrictions on the Bariatric/Gastric bypass surgeries? I am 5'7.5" and weigh 190, but i'd have to gain another 100+ pounds to qualify for the surgery. Why can't I qualify for it now considering the average chart would say I'm "obese"?
Comments
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21 posts
23 Mar 2009
A few possibilities come to mind (and I mean no personal offense, as I don't know your situation): 1 - They might assume someone who is not *morbidly* obese is able to exercise the weight off (this is not always true) b/c there are fewer physical limitations 2 - Cost/benefit: You are not morbidly obese so you're not in the highest risk group for obesity-related illnesses (not that they don't exist for ppl @ 190lb) Have you asked your doc why you don't qualify?
7 posts
9 Jun 2009
Actually, contrary to popular opinion, being overweight does not necessarily put you at a higher risk for health problems. Studies have shown that moderately overweight people tend to be healthier than underweight or "normal" weight people. It's only when you're significantly obese -- 100 or more pounds overweight -- that health risks start to increase. Gastric bypass is extremely complex, expensive, and serious surgery that requires lifelong follow-up and poses a number of major complications and risks, including death. The fact that the risks are so great is the reason why you have to be seriously obese to qualify. The thinking is that people should not take the risk of getting this surgery unless their weight potentially endangers their health more than the surgery would. And that would only happen for people who are very obese. I had an RNY bypass 4 years ago and it's been a success -- I met my goal and have kept the weight off. But make no mistake -- it's serious surgery, and not anything to be taken lightly. There are some very good reasons why it's so hard to qualify for it!