Suitability for weight loss surgery

For some people, obesity can be a life threatening condition. For others it can reduce their quality of life and can cause other problems such as depression and severe loss of confidence. It becomes a really major problem when all efforts to try to lose weight naturally have failed.

At this point a lot of obese people will be wondering what they can do to try and shift their excess weight. Weight loss surgery may be the only answer but there are strict guidelines which must be adhered to in order to ascertain an individual’s suitability for weight loss surgery.

Not everyone will be suitable to undergo weight loss surgery and that is why these guidelines have been set down and must be followed. If an individual wishes to have weight loss surgery in the UK, they will have to follow the guidelines set down by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Weight loss surgery is not something which should be entered into lightly. It is a life changing operation and the patient must be physically and mentally ready to cope with the changes they will have to make to their lifestyle.

One of the major requirements for weight loss surgery is that the patient must be over a certain weight to be suitable. The patient must have a body mass index of over 40 without any medical conditions or between 35 and 40 if there are accompanying medical conditions which could improve with weight loss, such as diabetes and hypertension. For those with a BMI of over 40, it is also important that a doctor has been tracking attempts by the patient to lose weight for at least six months without success.

The patient must also be over the age of 18 in order to be suitable for weight loss surgery and should have a good network of support available to them for after the surgery. The patient should also be fully aware and fully committed to the lifestyle changes which will be required once the surgery has been done. It is imperative that the patient knows what they will have to do to ensure maximum weight loss and how to maintain their weight.

The health of the patient also plays a part in determining their suitability for weight loss surgery. A doctor will not recommend a patient for weight loss surgery if they have any addiction to substances such as alcohol or drugs or have conditions such as liver disease or thyroid problems. Eating disorders would also disqualify a patient for surgery. Another guideline for weight loss surgery is that the patient must be in good overall health and fit enough for an anaesthetic. Determining a patient’s suitability for weight loss surgery will depend largely on whether they meet the above requirements. Without following these guidelines, a patient could face complications related to surgery and to the huge lifestyle changes they will have to make afterwards.

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