Not overweight enough?

I received a phone call yesterday from someone after I joined this group. I was food shopping and really couldn't take the time to ask more indepth questions, but they basically told me I wasn't heavy enough for any type of weight loss surgery. I'm 5'5 and I weigh 229. I've checked the standards and I'm considered 100 lbs. overweight. I'm disappointed in this, but I guess I should be more determined to lose weight, but I almost feel like I'm a second time loser. I used to weight 289, but through diet and exercise I lost 120 lbs. That was in 1996. Slowly, I'm gaining it all back. AHHHHHHHHH. Any advice? I also have major back problems. I've had my spine fused in two places and now exercise is more difficult for me (hence the weight gain.) Thanks for any advice offered.

Angela With your description.. you should qualify? Especially with your co morbidiities (fancy name for other problems)... do you have diabetes? Sleep apnea? other issues? TELL THEM TO GO GET WET ! I plugged your numbers into the BMI (body mass index calculator) *here* at the OH site (see the words.. **FOR YOU** at the top edge.. toolbar? click that.. then click.. BMI calculators) Here is what the chart said for that height and weight Your BMI is 38.1 What does this mean? The table below shows value ranges and what they mean. Range Meaning less than 18.5 Underweight 18.5 - 24.9 Normal 25.0 - 29.9 Overweight 30.0 - 34.9 Obese 35.0 - 39.9 Severely Obese 40.0 - 50 Morbidly Obese over 50 Super Obese So your considered Severely Obese. THAT qualifies.. those other people are full of POOP. *YEAH* Get your primary care physician on board.. and supporting your seeking WLS. He/she is the main starter mover to get the process going. They will likely ask for proof that you have tried other means.. and your doctor, if you have been working and not successful at weight loss.. your doctor can write a letter telling about your efforts. DONT give up.. keep asking and pestering.. some people it takes longer for approval but the ones that are successful are the ones that dont give up and dont take no for an answer... with support from a doctor and then also a surgeon .... with that support you can most often OUTLAST the insurance companies.. part of the weeding out process they use to find the people *****ALLY need it is denying people... They figure.. the people who KEEP trying really NEED the surgery. Harsh, and sorta poopy.. but often true? Keep your head up.. godspeed.. let us know if you need anything : ) take Care Timmy ray ps.. DONT feel discouraged.. my BMI TODAY...now is 56.. at surgery it was 84 ! So yeah this surgery is a lifesaver and a super tool to help a person. with a BMI of 38 you definitely qualify !!

Thank you for taking the time to tell me all that. I'm going to speak with my primary doctor this week. I mentioned I was interested in the surgery the last time I went to see him, and he told me he thought I was fine, but if I wanted to do it, to go see a doctor he knows performs this type of surgery. So, I will speak with about this further. I wish you success in your journey--long life and happiness. Angela!!

Hi Angela, According to the BMI calculator, you have a BMI of 38.1. This would qualify you for surgery only if you have one or more co-morbidities. I have no idea if your back problem would qualify as a comorbidity. What I read from the ASBS site seems to indicate that it would. For sure, things like high blood pressure and diabetes would allow you to qualify. Here are the patient selection criteria from the ASBS website. I would urge you to take this to your doctor and let him/her evaluate whether you are a candidate for surgery and get a referral to a bariatric surgeon. Don't go by what people that are not health care professionals are saying. Good luck! irene PATIENT SELECTION: The option of surgical treatment should be offered to patients who are morbidly obese, well informed, motivated, and acceptable operative risks. The patient should be able to participate in treatment and long term follow-up. Some patients with manifest psychopathology that jeopardizes an informed consent and cooperation with long term follow up may need to be excluded. A decision to elect surgical treatment requires an assessment of the risk and benefit in each case. Increased abdominal fat or "central obesity" (apple shaped as opposed to pear shaped) is an important risk factor associated with the major complications of obesity. Functional impairments associated with obesity are also important deciding factors for surgical treatment. An important conclusion of the 1991 National Institutes Consensus Development Conference Statement on the surgical treatment of obesity was that "patients judged by experienced clinicians to have a low probability of success with non-surgical measures, as demonstrated, for example, by failure in established weight control programs or reluctance by the patient to enter such a program, may be considered for surgical treatment".[1] Patients whose BMI exceeds 40 are potential candidates for surgery if they strongly desire substantial weight loss, because obesity severely impairs the quality of their lives. They must clearly and realistically understand how their lives may change after operation. In certain cir****tances, less severely obese patients (with BMI's between 35 and 40) also may be considered for surgery. Included in this category are patients with high risk co-morbid conditions such as life threatening cardiopulmonary problems (e.g. severe sleep apnea, Pickwickian syndrome, obesity related cardiomyopathy, or severe diabetes mellitus). Other possible indications for patients with BMI's between 35 and 40 include obesity-induced physical problems that are interfering with lifestyle (e.g. musculoskeletal or neurologic or body size problems precluding or severely interfering with employment, family function and ambulation). End stage obesity syndrome: Some candidates for surgical treatment of severe obesity have such impaired health that they must be hospitalized pre-operatively and undergo treatment to improve their operative risk.

Thank you so much. I hadn't read that information. It's news to me. I don't have sleep apnea, or any of those other problems. But, I certainly have too much weight to support the two titanium rods and six pedicle screws in my lower spine. I've been terrified to see my neurosurgeon, because I know he will freak to see how much weight I've gained in the past 7 years. At the time he told me to lose weight and I was 185. Now, I've reached 229. I feel this surgery will be a back saver for me. I'll always have back pain, but this would certainly alleviate the pressure. Thanks so much for taking the time to give me your advice. I truly appreciate it. Good luck on your journey, Angela

You're very welcome, Angela. Make sure that you gather as much information regarding your battle with obesity as you possibly can. Many insurance companies want to see a history of dieting failure, and my insurance company wants you to prove that you've been obese for a number of years. They are making it tougher and tougher to have surgery. Don't give up - just fight harder AND smarter! Irene