Many people struggling with obesity wonder if they qualify for weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, has helped numerous individuals achieve significant and sustainable weight loss.
However, it is a major procedure that comes with risks. Determining if you are eligible for bariatric surgery is an important first step.
This informative quiz helps you find out if you meet the basic requirements to be considered for weight loss surgery.
By answering a series of simple questions about your weight, BMI, health conditions, and lifestyle, you will get an idea of whether you may qualify for bariatric surgical procedures like gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric banding.
The quiz takes just a couple of minutes. Once you have your results indicating if you preliminarily qualify based on medical guidelines, you can bring your results to your doctor.
They can then verify if you are a good candidate for weight loss surgery and can advise you on next steps. Read on to take our “Do I Qualify for Weight Loss Surgery” quiz now.
Do I Qualify for Weight Loss Surgery Quiz?
Weight loss surgery is an option for people struggling with severe obesity and related health issues.
This quick quiz helps determine if you meet the basic BMI, health, and lifestyle requirements set by medical guidelines to qualify for bariatric procedures.
By answering just 5 simple questions about your current weight, health conditions, motivation, and past efforts with diet and exercise, you will find out if you preliminarily qualify.
Bring your results to your doctor for verification and to discuss potential next steps for weight loss surgery evaluation.
BMI and Weight Requirements
To qualify for weight loss surgery, you typically need to meet certain BMI (Body Mass Index) and weight requirements. Let’s go through some questions to see if you meet this initial criteria:
What is your current height and weight?
The first thing bariatric surgery programs will look at is your current height and weight to calculate your BMI. BMI is a measurement that takes into account both your height and weight to estimate total body fat.
- If you don’t know your current height and weight, be sure to measure and weigh yourself accurately before proceeding.
Is your BMI over 40?
- If your BMI is over 40, you exceed the obesity threshold to qualify for bariatric surgery at most centers. A BMI over 40 indicates severe, life-threatening obesity for most people.
- If your BMI is under 40, you may still qualify if you meet additional criteria – keep going!
Is your BMI between 35 and 39.9?
- If yes, you may still meet the BMI criteria for bariatric surgery, but only if you also have an obesity-related health condition like heart disease or diabetes. These are called “co-morbidities”.
- If no, you likely need a BMI over 35 to qualify for weight loss surgery. Losing even 5-10% of your weight can help meet this threshold.
So if you have either:
- A BMI over 40
- A BMI between 35-39.9 and an obesity-related condition
You likely meet the starting criteria for weight loss surgery eligibility based on your weight!
Medical History and Health Status
In addition to weight requirements, your overall health and medical history are evaluated to see if surgery is appropriate and you are healthy enough to undergo a major operation.
Do you have any of the following conditions?
Mark all that apply:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Joint problems causing impairment or immobility
- Difficulty performing routine daily tasks
Having any of the conditions above increases your risk profile if obesity continues long-term.
Bariatric surgery can help resolve or drastically improve these obesity-related conditions. The more health conditions caused by excess weight that you have, the more likely surgery makes sense for your situation.
Have you tried losing weight in the past with non-surgical methods without success?
To qualify for insurance coverage for weight loss surgery, you generally need documentation proving you have made consistent efforts to lose weight in the past without significant or sustainable results.
- If yes, be prepared to provide detailed records showing supervised dieting, exercise plans, counseling, medications, etc. that were not successful for maintaining long-term weight loss for you.
- If no, insurance may require you try other non-surgical weight loss programs first for 12-24 months before approving bariatric surgery.
Are you currently being treated for a psychiatric disorder or drug/alcohol dependence?
- If yes, your bariatric surgery program will likely want these conditions stabilized first before moving forward with surgical approval. Clearance from a mental health provider is generally required as well. Make sure to be open about your full history.
- If no, great! Be prepared to undergo psychiatric evaluation regardless to get medical clearance for surgery.
Are you willing and able to commit to substantial lifestyle changes before and after surgery for optimal success?
Weight loss surgery is a lifelong commitment requiring major changes to diet, eating patterns, physical activity, and behaviors. You also need social support from friends/family. Realistic expectations are necessary–it can take 2+ years to reach full expected weight loss.
- If you are not in a position to make drastic permanent lifestyle modifications before and especially after surgery, your risk of problems increases greatly. Surgical eligibility requires demonstrating motivation and capacity to put in hard work and dedication long-term.
If you do not have untreated mental health or substance issues, are ready to commit fully to required lifestyle overhaul, and have ANY obesity-related conditions, check marks on the health criteria!
Insurance Coverage Requirements
For those considering bariatric surgery in the U.S., one of the biggest factors is whether insurance will cover some or all of the costs, as out-of-pocket fees can be $20,000+ without assistance. Let’s go through some common insurance qualification checkpoints.
Do you have private insurance or are you enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid?
The specific requirements to get bariatric surgery approved by insurance vary widely between different plans. However, the previous BMI thresholds, documented failed weight loss attempts, medical necessity criteria tend to apply universally.
- Medicaid coverage also varies by state. Medicare has national criteria but getting approval can still be difficult. The best course is talking to your plan directly to learn the exact policies.
- No insurance at all generally means major out-of-pocket costs. But some clinics offer self-pay discounts or payment plans which can help offset some expenses.
Does your insurance plan specifically exclude coverage for bariatric surgery?
Unfortunately some health insurance policies have bariatric surgery listed as an excluded service, meaning they will not cover any part of costs under any circumstances.
- If certain your plan has bariatric surgery as excluded, self-pay options may be the only option other than switching insurance plans or hoping for policy changes in the future. Appeal processes to dispute denials are also an option but rarely succeed with blanket exclusions.
If eligible based on plan guidelines, are you ready to document and appeal any initial denials?
Even with health plans that cover weight loss surgery in theory based on standard criteria, initial claim denials are common. The appeals process can take 3-6+ months requiring extensive paperwork and patience.
- Being ready and willing to fight for coverage is key–without approval appeals, even eligible candidates often end up paying out of pocket. The best chance for insurance appeals includes support from a bariatric surgery center team.
In summary, navigating insurance requirements for weight loss surgery can be extremely frustrating but having a thorough understanding of your specific plan’s bariatric policies and rules is the vital first step!
Preparing For Bariatric Surgery Evaluation
If you have made it through the initial self-screening quiz meeting typical baseline criteria for weight loss surgery, the next step is an in-depth clinical evaluation by a bariatric surgery program.
Here are some things you can expect during the qualification process:
Medical and Mental Health Assessments
- Full medical exam and lab tests to screen for any issues that need addressing before surgery and to establish risk level
- Nutritional evaluation including detailed diet history
- Psychological evaluation to assess mental readiness for dramatic lifestyle changes
- Screening for drug, tobacco, and alcohol use which often need 6+ months without to qualify
Things like uncontrolled diabetes, heart failure, and liver disease can potentially disqualify candidates until stabilized. An experienced clinical team determines ultimate surgical readiness.
Official Documentation Submitted
- Height/weight/BMI tracking for 1+ year
- Records proving attempted non-surgical weight loss methods without sustained success
- Medical records for all current health providers like primary doctor, cardiologist, therapists, etc. to coordinate care
- Insurance records showing coverage denials/approvals for surgery
Having organized records demonstrating medical necessity from both your personal history and doctor experiences is key!
Committing to Mandatory Lifestyle Changes
- Eating training–small meals, protein first, no liquids with meals
- Physical activity goals–exercise plans adapted to capability
- Support meeting attendance–group or online sessions
- Tobacco/alcohol/drug cessation if needed
- Weight management tracking before and after surgery
Preparing for a totally new way of eating and living transformed by surgery is required. There is no bypassing the work needed even with the most skilled surgeon!
Setting Realistic Expectations
If given approval by your bariatric surgery program’s screening process, the last piece is making sure your expectations are realistic about results. Use these final questions to check your mindset:
Do you understand avg. weight loss timelines and the stages of recovery?
- 1st month – Rapid loss of approx 10% starting body weight
- 3 months – 25% loss reached
- 1 year – 50-60% of excess weight loss expected
- 18-24 months – Maximum weight loss achieved if compliance with diet and lifestyle is followed
There can be plateaus along the way. Healing happens slowly and at different paces for each person. Patience during the long journey is mandatory.
Are you committed to keeping follow-up appointments and strict dietary guidelines lifelong?
- Follow-up monitoring with your bariatric team is required at regular intervals lifelong to ensure vitamin levels and overall health is maintained
- Sticking to the recommended eating plan long-term is imperative – very high protein, small portions, slow eating. Without discipline, weight regain or deficiencies happen.
Bariatric surgery must become an entire lifestyle overhaul rather than a quick fix if ongoing success is the goal. Dedication to follow-through is key.
Do you have the right support system and coping strategies in place?
- Having friends and family onboard to assist you with daily changes can make all the difference in motivation. Isolation and lack of empathy often derail progress.
- Emotional struggles in adjusting to a new body and identity are common – having access to mental health resources if needed is vital. Support groups can help in dark times.
Remember surgery is a strong tool but not magical – hard internal work must happen too for maximum transformation.
Next Steps If Qualified for Bariatric Surgery
If you have established you meet common baseline eligibility criteria through this screening quiz, have documented medical necessity, jumped through insurance requirements, been cleared by a formal surgical evaluation, and set proper expectations about the process, congratulations – the next step is likely selecting a surgery date!
Here is what typically follows:
Choosing Between Types of Bariatric Surgery Procedures
The most common forms of weight loss surgery are:
- Sleeve gastrectomy – Removes 75% of the stomach. Least complicated option.
- Gastric bypass – Reroutes small intestine and makes a small stomach pouch. More risk of malnutrition.
- Gastric band – Inflatable band placed around top of stomach. Reversible but higher failure rate long-term.
- Duodenal switch – Removes section of small intestine. Highest success but increased difficulty.
Your health profile and preferences decide which surgery method is right for you. Discuss benefits vs risks thoroughly with your surgical team.
Pre-operative Preparations
- 2 week pre-op diet to shrink liver size
- Day before liquid diet
- Bowel prep to fully empty digestive system
- Fasting minimum 8 hours prior to surgery
Following instructions precisely before surgery is crucial to safety by preventing anesthesia complications and improving visualization of the anatomy during operation.
Recovery Process Expectations
- Hospital stay lengths average 1-3 days
- Back to work timeline averages 2-4 weeks
- Exercise restrictions for 4-6 weeks
- Eating progression plan from liquids to soft foods over 8 weeks
- Vitamin/mineral supplements started immediately and taken lifelong
Recovering fully takes about 3-6 months on average. Patience with your body’s gradual healing process allows best surgical results. With discipline and support, an entirely new chapter awaits!
Conclusion
I hope this bariatric surgery qualification screening quiz has helped you determine if weight loss surgery may be an appropriate option for you based on meeting evidence-based criteria.
Remember that even if qualified, weight loss surgery success requires full commitment to lifelong diet, activity, and behavior changes.
The personal challenges never disappear but can be faced with the right mindset and support team. If you believe you are a candidate, consult reputable bariatric surgery programs to explore next steps.
With realistic expectations about the risks and rewards, weight loss surgery can transform lives!
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