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Bariatric Surgery |
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Bariatric Surgery
 Causes of Obesity
Evaluation
Treatment
Evaluation There are several medically accepted criteria for defining morbid obesity. You might be considered morbidly obese if you meet any of the following critiera:
- Weigh more than 100 pounds over your ideal body weight
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of over 40. BMI is a number based on both your height and weight. It can help determine the degree to which a person is overweight and assesses their total body fat. The normal BMI is 20-25. Use our Body Mass Index Tool to check your BMI.
You may qualify for bariatric surgery, though technically not be morbidly obese, if you have a BMI of over 35 and suffer from conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, related to being severely overweight.
Obesity Health Risks
If you are obese or morbidly obese, you are at risk for developing a number of serious health problems. The most common conditions include:
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Depression -- Depression is very common after repeated failure with dieting and disapproval from family, friends and the public.
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Diabetes -- Obese individuals develop a resistance to insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. Over time, high blood sugar can cause type 2 diabetes that can lead to serious damage to the body.
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Gastroesophageal Reflux or Heartburn -- When acid escapes from the stomach into the esophagus through a weak or overloaded valve, gastroesophageal reflux can occur, causing "heartburn" and acid indigestion. Gastroesophageal reflux disease can lead to Barrett's esophagus, a pre-cancerous change in the lining of the esophagus and a cause of esophageal cancer.
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High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease -- Excess body weight strains the heart. This may lead to high blood pressure, which can cause strokes as well as heart and kidney damage.
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Incontinence -- In obese people, a large, heavy abdomen may cause the valve on the urinary bladder to weaken, leading to urinary stress incontinence or the leakage of urine with coughing, sneezing or laughing.
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Infertility -- Obese women may experience infertility -- an inability or diminished ability to become pregnant.
- Menstrual Irregularities -- Morbidly obese women may experience disruptions of menstrual cycles as well as abnormal flow and increased pain.
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Osteoarthritis -- The weight placed on joints, particularly knees and hips, results in rapid wear and tear of joints as well as pain caused by inflammation, called osteoarthritis. Excess weight puts a strain on bones and muscles of the back, which can cause disk problems, pain and decreased mobility.
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Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Problems -- Fat deposits in the tongue and neck can cause intermittent obstruction of your air passage, called sleep apnea. Because the obstruction is more severe when sleeping on your back, you may wake frequently to reposition yourself. Loss of sleep often causes drowsiness and headaches.
Evaluation Process
To be considered for bariatric surgery, you must weigh less than 450 pounds because our hospital X-ray equipment can't accommodate patients who weigh more. A nutritionist is available to help you lose weight to meet this requirement, if necessary.
You also must complete a medical and psychological evaluation and undergo an initial consultation with a surgeon. To streamline this process, you can coordinate most of your medical evaluations with your primary care doctor. A psychological evaluation with a certified mental health professional as well documentation of participation in a supervised weight-loss program also are required.
This information is sent to UCSF where it is reviewed by our team of surgeons, gastroenterologists and nurses. You will be asked to meet with a surgeon to discuss the procedure. At this time, you can ask any questions you may have.
When your pre-operative evaluation and tests have been successfully completed, we will schedule a follow-up appointment and arrange a surgery date.
The evaluation process, which takes about six to eight months, consists of the following steps:
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated February 14, 2008
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