• People with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40
• Men who are 100 pounds over their ideal body weight or women who are 80 pounds over their ideal body weight
• People with a BMI between 35 and 40 who have another condition such as obesity-related type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or heart disease
• People overweight with a BMI between 25-30 where other methods of weight loss have failed who are wealthy problems

Because the surgery can have serious side effects, the long-term health benefits must be considered and found greater than the risk. Despite the fact that some surgical techniques can be done laparoscopically with reduced risk, all bariatric surgery is considered to be major surgery.

Although not all risks with each procedure are fully known, bariatric surgery does help many people to reduce or eliminate some health-related obesity problems. It may help to:

• lower blood sugar 
• lower blood pressure 
• reduce or eliminate sleep apnea 
• less spinal column problems
• decrease the workload of the heart 
• lower cholesterol levels
• less joint problems

There may be other reasons for your physician to recommend a gastric banding procedure.

Gastric Bypass | Gastroplasty | Adjustable Gastric Band | Gastrectomy