Who is eligible for bariatric surgery and obesity intervention?

Obesity is a disease and, as such it should be treated. It affects the quality of life and, above all, increases the risk of mortality.

With this in mind we asked to find out more from Dr. Giuseppe Marinari, head of bariatric surgery in Humanitas.

How do I know if I’m eligible for bariatric surgery intervention?

“According to recent international guidelines, you can undergo bariatric surgery if you have a body mass index greater than 40 or greater than 35 if associated with diseases or obesity-related complications. The calculation to determine your body mass index is very simple: just divide your weight by your height squared (kg/m²)”.

Are there other requirements for the operation?

“Yes, there are other requirements to be eligible for intervention. First, you absolutely must have already tried in the past at least one “serious” diet, that is prescribed by a specialist; self-managed diets do not count.

Second, it is essential to have a certificate of psychological or psychiatric fitness excluding psychological contraindications to obesity surgery. Additionally there are some contraindications including:

• addiction to alcohol or drugs
• the presence of a major psychiatric illness not in phase compensation
• the diagnosis of diseases that lead to death in a short time

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