When Should You Consider Weight Loss Surgery?

When is it time to consider weight loss surgery in Baltimore? That is a highly personal question, and as a result, the answer is unique to you. Weight loss surgery isn’t the right solution for every obese individual. But, depending on your circumstances, it might be the tool you need to finally win the battle against excess pounds. To help you decide if you should get weight loss surgery, let’s take a look at some of the criteria and signs surgery might be best for you.

Weight Loss Surgery Requirements

Body Mass Index

The main requirement for getting bariatric surgery is having the right BMI. To get yours, you can use an online BMI calculator. Those with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 are medically overweight. Those with a BMI greater than 30 are medically obese. However, it isn’t until your BMI hits 40 or more that you are considered a candidate for surgery.

Exceptions to the Rule

Sometimes, you should have weight loss surgery despite not having a BMI over 40. If you have a BMI of 35 or more and you have a health problem that is exacerbated by your weight—such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnea—you are still a candidate for surgery. Whether or not it is the right solution depends on you.

Previous Earnest Efforts

You also need to have tried to lose weight through conventional methods first. This means that you have gone through periods of dieting and exercising in earnest but failed to see results or the results did not last long term. This is important because bariatric surgery does not replace diet and exercise; you still need to change your eating habits and be more active post-surgery.

The Right Mindset

In truth, this is a requirement that doctors cannot fully enforce; it is up to you to be honest with yourself. As noted above, getting results from weight loss surgery means making lifestyle changes. To do that, you need to have a growth mindset and an openness to change—as well as the ability to be honest with yourself about having a disordered relationship with food.

Feeling Ready for a Change

Finally, until you feel ready for a change, it isn’t time for weight loss surgery. But if you are at the point where you are tired of your lack of energy, aches and pains, and limited mobility and you want a life you truly get to live, it might be time to look into bariatric procedures. To start, read about the types of weight loss surgeries you need to know. Then, schedule your consultation.