When are you a good candidate for gastric bypass surgery when obese?

BMI > 40: If you meet minimum criteria (bmi > 40 or 35 with co-morbid conditions) you are a candidate for bariatric surgery. The type of surgery depends on your comfort level. Bypass has the best track record but has a slightly higher risk profile than other procedures. There are no studies that compare all procedures and show one procedure is better than the other.

BMI > 40: A BMI greater than 40 is one of the criteria for bariatric surgery after a patient has tried and failed lifestyle modification. A patient may qualify for bariatric surgery with a lower BMI if they have medical conditions that may be improved by the operation. My advice is that patients learn to make better nutrition choices to avoid weight gain later in life.

Candidate for bypass: For either band, bypass, or sleeve: 80-100 pounds overweight. Gastric bypass is preferable when there is significant heartburn (reflux), diabetics on insulin, or severe obesity (bmi > 50). The sleeve and band are generally avoided with significant heartburn problems. All procedures can really help with joint problems, hypertension, high cholesterol.