To be accepted for weight loss surgery (such as gastric bypass surgery), you need to meet certain criteria.  You must:

• Be between 18 and 65 years of age;

• Be severely obese (having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more; 100 pounds or more overweight) or obese (having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35-39.9) and suffering from obesity-related diseases (such as high  cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes, heart or lung disease);

• Have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight through a structured medical weight-loss  program that included diet, exercise and lifestyle changes;

• Be experiencing personal, work-related, or relationship problems due to obesity;

• Be willing and able to commit to long-term medical follow-up, as well as rigorous,  life-long changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle habits that will be necessary to  meet and maintain your weight loss and health goals after surgery;

• Be willing to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine if you are emotionally healthy enough to understand the ramifications of your decision

Surgery may be associated with its own set of problems, such as infection, poor wound healing, and rarely even death. Therefore, you and your surgeon should carefully discuss the risks of your current health condition compared to the risks and benefits of surgery.

For more information about obesity or surgical weight loss, visit these web sites:

American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Medline Plus