Introduction to Weight Loss Surgery
When is Surgery Appropriate to Consider?
Current guidelines for bariatric (weight loss) surgery state:
Bariatric surgery is recommended as a treatment option for people with obesity if all of the following criteria are fulfilled:
- you have a BMI of 40 kg/m2 or more, or between 35 kg/m2 and 40 kg/m2 and other significant disease that could be improved if you lost weight
- all appropriate non-surgical measures have been tried but have failed to achieve or maintain adequate, clinically beneficial weight loss for at least 6 months
- you are willing to attend a specialist clinic for advice and management
- you are generally fit for anaesthesia and surgery
- you can commit to the need for long-term follow-up and understand the need for your commitment to a healthy eating pattern and exercise programme.
In addition to the criteria listed above, bariatric surgery is also recommended as a first-line option (instead of lifestyle interventions or drug treatment) for adults with a BMI of more than 50 kg/m2 in whom surgical intervention is considered appropriate.
In people for whom surgery is recommended as a first-line option, the medications orlistat or sibutramine can be used to maintain or reduce weight before surgery.
