Question:
Exactly what makes someone a

I find the term "lightweight" to be funny. At any rate, I am just wondering if there is a specific range that is designated "lightweight", or if it is just a vague term. Thanks!    — Jennifer Y. (posted on March 29, 2002)


March 29, 2002
My take on "lightweight" is (in the world of WLS)...just hovering around 100 lbs. overweight, perhaps 125 lbs., since you have to be at least 100 lbs. overweight to be considered for WLS. This is just my own opinion of what lightweight is...I didn't read it anywhere. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

March 29, 2002
I have been called a lightweight which I found really funny at 267 pounds. I never really saw any official explanation of what constitutes a lightweight but loved being called one lol.
   — Donna L.

March 29, 2002
Actually this subject has been brought up a few times. Some people have even gotten offended by the term "lightweight". I weighed 225 on the day of surgery and my surgeon referred to me as a lightweight.At 5'3" I certainly did not feel light.I guess it is just a vague term.
   — garyzgurl

March 29, 2002
It's also funny to see this question because I work at BTC and we are so used to people being bigger that when someone is 250 or less they seen small even though we agree that is, in most cases 100 pounds over weight, and of course I think it would be healthy to be a normal weight at 150 most women 5'4 - 5'7 would be looking good. I'm one of the heavier nurses that work there and we talked about this during report this morning. Luckily I work with compationate co-workers because even though most of them are thin and some have had the surgery I have found at least at our BTC no one is looked down upon even if they are a "lightweight" or the heaviest weight. (Planning on surgery myself this fall)
   — Barb B.

March 29, 2002
Jennifer, first of all, good luck on your upcoming surgery! Now, to answer your question, there is a person on here who said she was 5'4 and 205 pounds and is having this surgery. To me, that is a lightweight and doesn't really even warrant the surgery considering she has less than 70 pounds to lose unless she has horrible comorbids along with it. Just my opinion here.
   — Barbara H.

March 29, 2002
At 5'3'' and 247 pounds, I was referred to as a lightweight. LOL Funny, I never felt very light. I was never offended, but I know there was a conversation once where a lightweight was upset by someone who was heavier than her. It's all in how you look at it, I guess. I think it's just a vague term. Donna in AL
   — Donna S. C.

March 30, 2002
At 5'2", weight of 226, and a bmi of 40.7, I was a lightweight. I was just barely 100 lbs overweight. And I had borderline co-morbids. I take offense to people saying that I shouldn't have had the surgery because I was not "that much overweight". The fact of the matter is I had this surgery to tackle a problem before it got really really bad...and I was 200 lbs overweight and knocking on death's door. Lightweight is a generic term. But people coming down on us "lightweights" is not fair. Just because we chose to or had the opportunity to have this surgery before we became super obese or something is not very supportive. Thanks for letting me vent this one out. It comes up so often...
   — Mustang

April 2, 2002
Someone who only "just" qualifies for WLS surgery is considered a lightweight. I had a BMI of 42 when I had surgery last May (2001). I have lost 97 pounds and went from a size 22/24 (that was small??) to a size 8. Life is much more fun at a size 8. It is silly isn't it? As if I could ever have lost 97 pounds on my own. Thank heavens for WLS!
   — blank first name B.

January 13, 2005

   — Yaga110




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