Bariatric surgery is not suitable for all people who are obese. Everyone will agree that people should try appropriate dieting, exercise, and other ways to lose weight before considering surgery.

Weight Loss Surgery has been most successful for people who meet the criteria listed below. At Vanderbilt, surgery is done only if a patient meets the following criteria:

• A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more. If you have other high-risk conditions, a BMI of 35 may qualify. BMI is a simple way to calculate the amount of fat on your body.
• The person has already tried non-surgical weight loss treatments such as diet, exercise, and behavioral changes.
• The person has no medical or hormonal reason for the obesity. These conditions are rare but require treatment of the underlying medical problem.
•  The person must be fully informed about the surgery and have realistic expectations of weight loss and possible complications.
• The person must demonstrate a willingness to accept the risks of surgery.
• The person must demonstrate a willingness to make dramatic lifelong changes in lifestyle, dietary habits, and exercise, and also to commit to medical follow-up.