Question:
BMI over 40, but not 100# overweight/Anyone else been approved?

At 4' 10 1/2" and 194 pounds, have a high enough BMI, but my adult weight, at it's lowest, in my late teens/early 20's, was 120-130 pounds. (Am 42 years old now.) Am I a candidate for surgery?    — Dhelynn (posted on October 8, 2000)

October 7, 2000
I am an RN at the BTC in Michigan and we operate on women who are not a hundred pounds overweight. Our criteria is BMI, not weight. Good Luck!
   — Terry M.

October 8, 2000
My doctor said that they don't go by weight, they go by BMI. He said that the insurances have less problem approving if you are over 47 BMI unless you have a lot of other medical problems. So if I were you, I'd start doccumenting every ache, pain and problem no matter how small to give to your doctor. Also, don't stand so straight when they measure you, that changes your BMI even more than weight! (ha ha). Good luck!
   — Bryytteyes

October 8, 2000
Hi, I'm about 80 pounds overweight with a BMI of 37 with comorbities and I was approved in 3 days! Like they said, it goes by your BMI but the cormorbities helps. Good Luck!
   — Ronda B.

October 8, 2000
I checked the height/weight tables at Metropolitan Life Insurance (www.metlife.com)and they say 4' 10": small frame: 102-111, med frame: 109-121, lg frame: 118-131. So you're definitely up there. I understand why you're worried about the weight. Is this a condition of your insurance policy? My policy states that one must be TWICE the normal weight as standardized by the Met-Life tables. Luckily (luckily???) I'm that much at 285 lbs. My suggestion is to contact the surgeon of your choice, and discuss your options. Good luck!!!!
   — Kristy J.