Am I a Candidate
for Bariatric Surgery?
Find out if weight loss surgery may be right for you — check your BMI, review the criteria, and take your next step with confidence.
Check My BMIYour BMI is the
starting point
Body Mass Index (BMI) is the first number your surgeon will look at. Most insurance companies require a BMI of 40+, or 35+ with a qualifying health condition.
Calculate My BMI
NIH Candidacy Requirements
These six criteria were established by the National Institutes of Health. Meeting them means you may qualify — our team will guide you through every detail.
BMI of 40+ or BMI 35+ with health conditions
A BMI of 40 or higher qualifies directly. A BMI of 35–39.9 qualifies when combined with serious weight-related conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea, or high blood pressure.
No untreated condition causing your weight
There should be no unaddressed medical condition directly responsible for your weight that could be resolved without surgery. In practice, our team has rarely — if ever — seen this occur.
Previous weight loss attempts without surgery
You've tried traditional diet and exercise programs without achieving meaningful long-term weight loss. This is extremely common — and it is not a personal failure.
Commitment to your program & follow-up care
Surgery is a tool, not a cure. A basic understanding of how it works and a genuine commitment to follow-up care and lifestyle changes are essential for lasting success.
No active substance abuse issues
Candidates should not have active alcohol or drug dependency issues. If this is a concern, our team can help connect you with appropriate resources before pursuing surgery.
Medical risks are manageable
Existing health conditions should be stable enough that the risk of surgery is medically reasonable. Our surgeons perform thorough pre-operative evaluations to confirm this.
What if I don't meet every criterion?
There are always exceptions. Our surgeons review each patient individually and can often find a path forward even when the standard NIH criteria aren't fully met. Schedule a consultation — you may be closer to candidacy than you think.
Conditions that strengthen your candidacy
If your BMI is 35–39.9, having one or more of these weight-related conditions means you may still qualify for bariatric surgery.
Is bariatric surgery the "easy way out"?
Surgery is a shortcut for people who lack willpower.
Many people believe obesity is simply a matter of eating less and moving more — and that choosing surgery means giving up on "doing the work."
Obesity is a complex medical disease — not a character flaw.
Bariatric surgery corrects the hormonal and metabolic mechanisms that make long-term weight loss so difficult. Patients still commit to lifelong dietary changes, exercise, and follow-up care. Surgery is the beginning — not the end — of the journey.
Ready to explore your options?
Now that you know the candidacy criteria, discover which procedures our surgeons perform and find the right fit for your goals and lifestyle.
Go to Step 2: Treatment Options