Criteria for Gastric Sleeve Surgery
There are a number of widely accepted criteria which make a patient suitable for this operation:
Selection Criteria
- Weight greater than 45kg above the ideal body weight for sex, and height.
- BMI greater than 35 by itself or greater than 30 if there is an associated obesity illness , such as diabetes ,hypertension or sleep apnoea.
- Reasonable attempts at other weight loss techniques.
- Age 16-75.
- Obesity related health problems.
- No psychiatric or drug dependency problems.
- A capacity to understand the risks and commitment associated with the surgery.
- Pregnancy not anticipated in the first 6-12 months following surgery.
Flexibility
There is considerable flexibility in these guidelines. Patients as young as 12 have been offered surgery. Sometimes a lower BMI between 30-35 is accepted if comorbidities exist. It is recognised that patients of Indian and Asian descent often get comorbidites at a Lower BMI and their threshold for surgery also has to be lower.
Paradoxically, patients with a BMI of 30-35 have the best weight loss outcomes usually achieving over 90% EWL (See our results). The risk of surgery has to be balanced with the smaller risks that a low BMI patient has of health issues.
BMI Ranges
Remember though that BMI is just a number. Sometimes patients with a BMI below 35 who have struggled with their weight all their lives will be offered surgery.
| 20 – 24.9 | Normal Range |
| 25 – 29.9 | Overweight |
| 30 – 34.9 | Obese |
| 35 – 49.9 | Morbidly Obese |
| 50+ | Super Obesity |
BMI Calculator
My Next Steps:
Now you have reviewed the selection criteria for gastric sleeve surgery, please see: Where to from here…
