FAQs on bariatric surgery

You probably have a lot of questions about bariatric surgery. Five of our doctors identified some of their most-asked questions and answer them here. Watch their videos, and learn more about if you qualify, what to expect and how it could change your life.

Making the decision

See what our experts say about bariatric surgery.

Learning more

See our experts go into detail about bariatric surgery.

Surgery specifics

Learn about the lifestyle changes from our experts.

Life after surgery

Our experts answer post-surgery considerations.

Know your BMI

An interplay of diet, family history and amount of physical activity are all risk factors for obesity and weight gain. Your body mass index (BMI) can help determine into which weight category you fall.

BMI is a numerical measure of a person's body weight in relation to their height. It is calculated by dividing an individual's weight in pounds (or kilograms) by the square of their height in feet (or meters). This determines whether a person falls into the underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese categories.

Your BMI and weight are simple indicators of potential health risks associated with being underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese.

You may be a great candidate for metabolic weight loss or bariatric surgery if:

  • You have a BMI of 40 or more
  • Are more than 100 pounds overweight
  • Have tried and failed to lose weight
  • You suffer from obesity-related health problems