To qualify for bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass surgery, you must usually have a BMI of 40+ or 35+ with an accompanying weight-related medical condition like diabetes. The FDA is likely to lower the BMI requirement by 5 points for LAP-BAND® surgery, but has not yet announced its formal decision.

Even if you qualify for bariatric surgery based on BMI, there may be other factors that can affect your eligibility for certain procedures. Only a board-certified bariatric surgeon can give a definitive recommendation of which weight loss surgery is best for you.

What is BMI?

BMI stands for Body Mass Index, which is a ratio of your weight to your height that is helpful in determining if you are considered obese and if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery.

Body Mass Index is not always reliable because people with lots of muscle may have a high BMI but be completely healthy. However, BMI is still a useful indicator that doctors can use as a signal that you may be at risk for various weight-related health conditions like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Doctors generally categorize patients’ weight using the following BMI ranges:

BMI Calculator

Use this calculator to find out if you are a good candidate for weight loss surgery.

Weight Height lbs. ft. in.

 

 

• Underweight = 16-20
• Normal weight = 20-25
• Overweight = 25-30
• Obese (Class I) = 30-35
• Obese (Class II) = 35-40
• Obese (Class III) = 40+