Based on your height of 5'5" and weight of 233 lbs, your Body Mass Index (BMI) is approximately 38.7. This places you within the range where bariatric surgery could be an option, depending on certain factors. Typically, individuals with a BMI of 40 or higher are considered strong candidates for bariatric surgery, even if they do not have any obesity-related health issues. Since your BMI falls between 35 and 39.9, you may still qualify if you have health conditions related to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint pain, high cholesterol, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These conditions are known as "comorbidities" and can increase the likelihood of being approved for surgery. At age 44, you are within the typical age range for bariatric surgery, which is often performed on individuals between 18 and 65.