10
Bariatric Surgery
Potential Bariatric Surgery Patient
• Does clinical evidence exist that the increase in body fat is pathogenic?
• Did the patient make reasonable attempts to reduce body weight and
improve health?
• Was the patient evaluated by a clinician trained in comprehensive
management of overweight and obesity (e.g., physician certified by
the American Board of Obesity Medicine or provider credentialed in
Advanced Education in Obesity Management)?
• Does the patient demonstrate a commitment to follow post-operative
recommendations, maintain necessary lifestyle changes and agree to
life-long post-operative medical surveillance?
• What are the specific insurance criteria that need to be met (e.g.,
documentation of prior unsuccessful weight loss attempts)?
Consider bariatric surgery
and continue medical obesity
management
Initiate, continue, and/or
intensify medical obesity
management and consider
endoscopic therapy
Surgical candidate Non-surgical candidate
Potential Bariatric Surgery Candidate
1991 National Institute of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Panel
BMI ≥ 35 with one or more adverse health
consequence due to obesity
BMI ≥ 40
2022 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)
BMI ≥ 30 with type 2 diabetes
OR
BMI ≥ 30 without substantial or durable
weight loss or co-morbidity improvement
using nonsurgical methods
BMI ≥ 40
BMI ≥ 25 in
Asian individuals
BMI ≥ 27.5 in
Asian individuals
