Body Mass Index (BMI)
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is the standard method for diagnosing obesity. BMI is a simple calculation that compares weight-to-height measurements. The range of healthy to unhealthy BMI is as follows:
How do you know if you qualify for weight loss surgery? Each insurance company has their own criteria, so we encourage you to call the office to see if your insurance covers weight loss surgery and their individual criteria. Most providers, including the UC Health Weight Loss Center, generally use the following guidelines:
- A BMI over 30 qualifies a patient for Lap-Band® surgery. Potential Lap-Band® patients with a BMI of 30-34.9 must also have one or more diseases associated with obesity to qualify for surgery at the UC Health Weight Loss Center.
- Patients with a BMI over 35 may qualify for all other weight loss surgical procedures, including Realize® Band, gastric bypass and gastric sleeve. Once again, patients must have one or more diseases associated with obesity to qualify.
- A BMI over 40 may qualify a patient for any procedure, regardless of whether they suffer from any obesity-related diseases.
BMI, however, is not the only way to determine whether a patient may qualify for weight loss surgery. BMI provides an estimate that surgeons and patients can use to better determine how healthy or unhealthy their weight is for their height. Certainly, BMI is not the only thing that determines how unhealthy your weight is. For example, BMI does not take into account gender, muscle mass, body frame size or age. Variations in each of these areas can significantly affect the impact BMI has on your health.
We encourage all of our patients to understand BMI, know their number, and understand all of the pros and cons to weight loss surgery before making a final decision. But you are not on your own in this process – our team of experts want to help you in any way possible, and are available to answer any and all of your questions about weight loss surgery and other weight and health-related concerns. Most of our patients find our free weight loss surgery seminars or one-on-one physician consultations to be helpful. Your first step is just a click away.
Sign UpTo learn more about weight loss surgery, we invite you to attend one of our free weight loss surgery seminars.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is the standard method for diagnosing obesity. BMI is a simple calculation that compares weight-to-height measurements. The range of healthy to unhealthy BMI is as follows:
How do you know if you qualify for weight loss surgery? Each insurance company has their own criteria, so we encourage you to call the office to see if your insurance covers weight loss surgery and their individual criteria. Most providers, including the UC Health Weight Loss Center, generally use the following guidelines:
BMI, however, is not the only way to determine whether a patient may qualify for weight loss surgery. BMI provides an estimate that surgeons and patients can use to better determine how healthy or unhealthy their weight is for their height. Certainly, BMI is not the only thing that determines how unhealthy your weight is. For example, BMI does not take into account gender, muscle mass, body frame size or age. Variations in each of these areas can significantly affect the impact BMI has on your health.
We encourage all of our patients to understand BMI, know their number, and understand all of the pros and cons to weight loss surgery before making a final decision. But you are not on your own in this process – our team of experts want to help you in any way possible, and are available to answer any and all of your questions about weight loss surgery and other weight and health-related concerns. Most of our patients find our free weight loss surgery seminars or one-on-one physician consultations to be helpful. Your first step is just a click away.