Question:
How do I know I am a good canidate?

my BMI is only 30.4. Is this good enough. I get cronic back pain. It is very hard for me to bend my knees due to all the weight. Also I am extremely depressed. I also choke in my sleep. Can someone help.    — lbenavides1010 (posted on January 5, 2006)

January 5, 2006
Usually you have to be 100lbs over your normal weight. Your bmi should be around 30-40 and over. Of course you could be not that much over weight etc and have a lot of medical problems due to your being overweight and still qualify. I was way over 100lbs overweight and had a bmi of 55. Different Dr's require different requirements. Hugs!
   — Angelfirewithwings

January 5, 2006
Your question is vague, bmi 30, is does not meet standards, and you dont list comorbids. you hint possibly apnea, osteoporiis,and depression. your bmi would typically would need to be 35 with 2 conditions. you need to be dianosed. I suspect that having apnea treated, (apnea causes weight gain) ,depressions does also, you may not require surgery, You may have diabetes. Which surgery to consider would be influeced by the results of your health status. blindly speaking, health workup, resolve the sleep issue, mental issues. supervised diet which is mandatory and see where your weigh is 6 months from now. not just diet alone. the sleep issue is a major issue that affect weight and depression. been there.
   — walter A.

January 5, 2006
With your BMI only being 30.4, you may be required to be at least 100 pounds over your ideal body weight. Also, the things you have listed are called comorbitities. That may also help. I suggest that you speak with your family doc, and see what he/she says. Also, speak with a surgeon. Best of luck to you.
   — kizie23

January 5, 2006
Hi Lisa, As the others have suggested, your BMI normally has to be at least 35 with co-morbidities and 40 without. Please see your family doctor and ask to be but on a weight reduction plan for six months. This is not a waste of time as the majority of insurance coverages require a supervised weight loss plan documented for 26 weeks. If you loose some weight-Great! That may help with the depression and sleep apnea. If not, you have completed the longest requirement in obtaining coverage for your surgery. Where do you live and which insurance coverage do you have? We may be able to offer other insight with this information. Peace, Susan
   — vavet1963

January 6, 2006
Lisa, the only one who can really answer your question is a surgeon. You can call and talk to the surgeon's nurse perhaps and see but this is a medical decision you need to discuss with professionals.
   — Tuxedo Katz

January 6, 2006
You should get a sleep apnea test to see if you have that (it causes chosking while sleeping). Also a psychiatric evaluation (for depression), and maybe an evaluation by an exercise physiologist. If you have those conditions, they are called "co-morbidities, and you may qualify. Check with your insurance company for their guidelines. Get the sleep apnea taken care of- this past year a sports figure (I can recal who right now) died from it!!!
   — Novashannon

January 6, 2006
Currently, the National Institute of Health guidelines suggest obesity surgery should only be offerred to patients with BMIs 35-40 with comorbid illness, or greater than 40 without. Therefore, most insurance companies follow these same guidelines. There is considerable evidence, however, that surgery for patients at lower BMI (30-34.9) with comorbid illness that can be cured or markedly improved by substantial and sustained weight loss, may be warranted. Persons with these lower BMIs may have more success than higher BMI patients with nonsurgical weight loss methods. You should seek out a surgeon in your area (we are in Suffolk, NY) to discuss the matter further, realizing of course that insurance carriers will likely not pay for the surgery. M.Brackman, MD
   — Dr. Brackman