Congratulations on considering this important step to improve your health! With a BMI of 43, have obesity (defined as a BMI >30). Obesity puts you at risk for obesity-related co-morbidities such as type II diabetes (T2DM), hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, and heart disease. Thus you are wise to be concerned about your weight, its impact on your health, and the increased difficulty to lose weight or undergo surgery as you grow older. To qualify for gastric bypass surgery (aka weight loss surgery), the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recommends you meet one of the following: BMI ≥ 40, or more than 100 pounds overweight.BMI ≥35 and at least one or more obesity-related co-morbidities such as type II diabetes (T2DM), hypertension, sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, lipid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, or heart disease.Inability to achieve a healthy weight loss sustained for a period of time with prior weight loss efforts. From the information you shared, you meet the first and third qualifications. Meeting with a bariatric surgeon in your area will allow you to further discuss the pros and cons of surgery as well as insurance coverage and the cost for the surgery in your geographic area. You can also check out the Patient Learning Center of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery to educate yourself on surgical options.