If you’ve been struggling with excess weight for years despite trying every diet, exercise plan, and wellness trend, it’s natural to feel frustrated. Maybe your weight is beginning to affect your daily life: shortness of breath during simple activities, ongoing joint pain, persistent fatigue, or health concerns like high blood pressure or diabetes. When these symptoms begin to affect your confidence, mobility, and overall well-being, you may consider bariatric surgery.
At NJ Advanced Surgical Solutions, Dr. Val Prokurat, our board-certified general and bariatric surgeon, evaluates your health, goals, and medical history to determine if weight-loss surgery is an appropriate and safe option for you. In this article, you’ll learn the key criteria that determine whether you qualify for bariatric surgery and what to expect as you begin exploring treatment.
Your BMI and overall weight status
One of the primary indicators of eligibility is your body mass index (BMI). In most cases, you may qualify for bariatric surgery if your BMI is 35 or higher, or if you are more than 100 pounds overweight. These thresholds help identify patients whose weight poses significant health risks or who have been resistant to long-term management with traditional methods.
BMI also helps Dr. Prokurat assess which treatment option may be most effective for your needs. While the 35+ benchmark is standard, exceptions exist, particularly if excess weight is already contributing to serious health issues. Because every individual’s medical situation is different, Dr. Prokurat evaluates your BMI in context rather than relying on it alone.
The presence of obesity-related health conditions
If you have a BMI below 40 but struggle with obesity-associated conditions, you may still qualify for bariatric surgery. These conditions can include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- High cholesterol
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- GERD or chronic acid reflux
- Joint pain or mobility limitations
These health issues often worsen with elevated weight, and many patients find that bariatric surgery can dramatically improve or even resolve them. Dr. Prokurat assesses how your weight is impacting your overall health to determine whether surgery is part of the safest and most effective treatment plan.
Your age and general health
Bariatric surgery is typically recommended for adults aged 18 to 65 years old, an age range associated with the safest surgical outcomes. Patients younger than 18 or older than 65 may have additional risk factors that require careful evaluation.
However, age is not the only consideration. Your overall medical stability, cardiac function, pulmonary status, and existing medical conditions all play a role. Dr. Prokurat will perform a full evaluation, including medical history, diagnostic tests, and laboratory work, to ensure you are healthy enough to undergo surgery and safely recover afterward.
Your lifestyle habits and willingness to make changes
Bariatric surgery requires not only a physical transformation, but a behavioral one. To qualify, you must show a clear willingness to adopt healthier habits, including:
- Avoiding or quitting tobacco use
- Following post-operative dietary guidelines
- Committing to regular physical activity
- Attending follow-up appointments and nutritional counseling
Tobacco use, in particular, can interfere with healing and increase complications. If you currently smoke or use tobacco, you will be required to stop before moving forward. Dr. Prokurat will also help you set sustainable goals and assess your readiness to embrace long-term lifestyle changes that support your weight-loss success.
Your history of previous weight-loss attempts
Many insurance providers and clinical guidelines require evidence that you have made good-faith attempts to lose weight without surgery. This may include supervised diet programs, physician-guided weight-loss plans, or structured nutrition and exercise efforts.
If you haven’t recently participated in a medically supervised program, you may need to complete one before receiving approval. This serves two purposes: it demonstrates your commitment and ensures you have the support to begin forming healthier habits.
Your psychological readiness and support system
Bariatric surgery is both physically and emotionally demanding. Most patients undergo a psychological evaluation to ensure they are mentally prepared and have a strong support system in place. This evaluation helps determine whether you:
- Understand the lifestyle changes required
- Are emotionally ready for the transition
- Have support from family or friends
- Are able to manage stress and maintain long-term motivation
These assessments aim to ensure your long-term success and emotional well-being.
Your commitment to long-term follow-up care
Weight-loss surgery is a lifelong journey. To qualify, you must be fully committed to ongoing follow-up appointments, nutritional monitoring, and routine assessments. These visits allow Dr. Prokurat to track your progress, address nutritional needs, and ensure you remain healthy and supported during every stage of your transformation.
Begin your evaluation at NJ Advanced Surgical Solutions
Qualifying for bariatric surgery involves understanding your health, your goals, and your readiness for a major lifestyle change. With the guidance of Dr. Val Prokurat, our board-certified bariatric surgeon, you’ll receive a personalized evaluation to determine whether surgery is the right option for you and what steps you need to take next.
If you’re ready to explore whether you qualify, contact NJ Advanced Surgical Solutions today to schedule a consultation in New Jersey and begin your journey toward better health.
