Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a useful indicator of whether or not you are a good candidate for Lap-Band Surgery.
LAP-BAND Surgery Patient Criteria
The LAP-BAND procedure is a safe and effective weight loss solution, but weight loss surgery is not for everyone who is overweight. Whether or not you are a good candidate for weight loss surgery is a decision that you and your doctor will make together.
One of the most important measures of eligibility that your doctor will use is your Body Mass Index (BMI), a calculation based on your height and weight. Your BMI classifies you as either overweight, obese, or morbidly obese and determines if you fall in the range to be considered for Lap-Band Surgery.
What is the Body Mass Index (BMI)?
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight. The formula for determining your BMI is (weight in pounds) divided by (height in inches squared).
The BMI measurement categorizes weight as follows:
- Healthy Weight: BMI between 19 and 25
- Overweight: BMI between 25 and 30
- Obese: BMI over 30
- Severely (Morbidly) Obese: BMI is 40 or more
Because the BMI does not distinguish between muscle and fat, it is possible for athletes to have a high BMI measurement but still not be considered overweight.
Do I Qualify for Lap-Band Surgery?
Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a useful indicator of whether or not you are a good candidate for LAP-BAND Surgery. In general, weight loss surgery and the LAP-BAND procedure may be a suitable approach if your BMI is over 40. If your BMI is less than 40 but at least 30 and you have one or more obesity related health conditions, LAP-BAND Surgery may still be an appropriate option.
Another useful measurement for determining eligibility is the amount of excess weight on your body. If you weigh twice your ideal weight or are at least 80 pounds overweight if you are a woman or at least 100 pounds overweight if you are a man, then treatment with the LAP-BAND may be advantageous for your health.
Lap-Band Surgery may be right for you if:
- Your BMI is more than 40; or more than 30 with obesity related health conditions
- You weigh twice your ideal weight or are at least 80 to 100 pounds overweight
- You are between the ages of 18 and 60
- You have been overweight for 5 years or more
- You have been unable to lose weight thru diet and exercise
- You do not have an illness that has caused you to be overweight
- You do not drink too much alcohol
- You are committed to making changes in your diet and lifestyle
- You are willing to continue working with and be monitored by your LAP-BAND doctor
If you are interested in Lap-Band Surgery and want to see if it is right for you, take a step for your health and talk to your doctor about weight loss surgery.
FDA Requirements for LAP-BAND Surgery - BMI and Age
The BMI and age requirements for the LAP-BAND is set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the government agency that clears medical devices for marketing in the United States.
When the LAP-BAND received FDA approval in June 2001, patient criteria was limited to individuals who were age 18 years or older and had a BMI of at least 40, or a BMI between 35 and 40 in combination with a related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or sleep apnea.
The BMI requirements were revised in February 2011, when the Food and Drug Administration approved the request to lower the Body Mass Index requirements for LAP-BAND weight loss surgery. The LAP-BAND is now cleared for use in patients with a BMI of 30 who also have an obesity related health condition.
