Do I qualify for bariatric surgery?

Question

I’m a 5 5 tall female weighing 225lbs. I’ve struggled with my weight my whole life and this is the heaviest I’ve ever been. I started having right hip pain in 2020 and the orthopedic surgeon recommended surgery but first losing weight. I can’t exercise or walk much as my hip hurts. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2021. I had my thyroid removed in 2013 and since then my weight has gone way up. If my weight isn’t high enough do I qualify for surgery based on my other health issues?

Jorge Maytorena, MD · Answer

With that weight, according to your height and weight, you have a BMI of 37.4, which is considered grade II obesity, plus joint pain, sleep apnea, you are a candidate for weight loss surgery.

Ali Solmaz, MD · Answer

Regarding your qualification for weight loss surgery, most bariatric surgery programs, such as gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, typically have specific criteria based on BMI (Body Mass Index) and underlying health conditions. For individuals with a BMI over 40, or a BMI over 35 with comorbidities (like sleep apnea, joint pain, or thyroid issues), surgery can often be considered.
Your health conditions, particularly sleep apnea and hip pain, could support your case for surgery. Sleep apnea is a serious condition often linked with obesity and can be improved with weight loss, making it an important factor in the decision-making process. Additionally, your inability to exercise due to hip pain could hinder your ability to lose weight through conventional methods, making surgery a viable option to help you start the weight loss journey.
Having had your thyroid removed is another critical consideration. With no thyroid, your metabolism is significantly impacted, which makes it harder to maintain or lose weight. This is a known complication for those who have had thyroidectomy, and it’s something that doctors will take into account when assessing whether surgery is appropriate.
While you may not yet meet the typical weight qualifications for surgery based solely on your BMI, the combination of your comorbid conditions (sleep apnea, thyroid issues, and hip pain) could increase your eligibility for surgery. It’s important to discuss your specific situation with a bariatric surgeon who can assess your health comprehensively. They may require a multi-disciplinary evaluation, including a consultation with your orthopedic surgeon, sleep specialist, and possibly an endocrinologist to determine if weight loss surgery is right for you.

Onyeka Nwokocha, MD · Answer

1) Body weight greater than 100 pounds or 45 kg above ideal weight.2) Body Mass Index /BMI greater than 40 with or without any other medical condition.3) Or BMI greater than 35 with associated comorbidities related to obesity, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and gallbladder disease. 4) Documented history of weight loss attempts.5) Must not have bad habits (active alcoholism, active drug addiction) or a major psychiatric disorder.
Hope this helps

Islam Abdelkhalek, MD · Answer

Weight loss surgeries like bypass or sleeve can be done for BMI above 35 or above 30 with related health issues to obesity. Your BMI is 37 so you are qualified for surgery. How will reach your ideal body weight within a year plus you will have improvement in orthopaedic conditions. You will walk much easier after losing weight. The sleep apnea improves alot by losing weight and in many patient cured completely. We have many patients with improved medical conditions related to obesity after doing weight loss surgeries. The best decision whether bypass or sleeve is determined according to several factors to give the optimum results. Hope that helps

Cemal Kara, MD · Answer

Hello, your BMI is 37.5. You are qualify for the gastric sleeve operation. Excess weight cause over 70 illnesses such as sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, Type-2 Diabetes, high cholesterol, low quality of life, body pain and difficulty with physical functioning. These illnesses and ailments can be treated by the gastric sleeve operation. In your weight loss process and when you reach your ideal weight, your many ailments will decrease.

Nelson Rodriguez, MD · Answer

Yes you can qualify for Bariatric surgery because you have obesity grade 2 (37 BMI), the surgery could be a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, and it would help you a lot

Pablo Garcia, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello, hope you are well. Based on the metrics you provided, your calculated BMI would be 42.4., which means you qualify for bariatric surgery. However, you would need to be evaluated by a certified bariatric surgeon in order to determine which procedure you qualify for because factors like comorbid diseases need to be taken into account. Most probably a bypass would be a good option for you.  Hope this answer was helpful. Please dont hesitate to contact us if any other questions arise.

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