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What is the Minimum BMI for Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Gastric bypass surgery, often commonly referred to as lap band surgery, has become a popular weight loss method.
Carnie Wilson, Randy Jackson, Roseanne Barr and Diego Maradona are among the celebrities that have gone under the knife in their bid to lose weight.
What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Gastric bypass surgery (or bariatric surgery) is a broad term covering a number of surgical procedures to aid in weight loss.
The different types of Gastric bypass surgery include the following procedures: gastric bypass , adjustable gastric banding, duodenal switch , lap band surgery and sleeve gastrectomy.
How does it work?
According to WebMD:
Gastric bypass surgery makes the stomach smaller and causes food to bypass part of the small intestine. You will feel full more quickly than when your stomach was its original size. This reduces the amount of food you can eat at one time. Bypassing part of the intestine reduces how much food and nutrients are absorbed. This leads to weight loss.
Lots of people want to lose weight, and what could be better than instant and effortless weight loss?
Unfortu
nately, it’s not as simple as it sounds and not everyone succeeds in their weight loss endeavours. Carnie Wilson famously lost a lot of weight after her surgery, only to regain most of the weight because she hadn’t fixed underlying issues that caused her to overeat.
What is the Minimum BMI for Gastric Bypass Surgery?
In order to qualify for gastric bypass surgery the recommended minimum body mass index (BMI) is:
- A BMI of at least 40 (usually for a period of at least five years) coupled with an inability to lose weight or maintain weight loss through diet and exercise.
- A BMI of between 35 and 40 if you have serious health related issues, such as Diabetes Type II, sleep apnoea, high blood pressure or heart disease.
Some clinics will accept patients with a BMI as low as 30, however the above guidelines (a BMI of 40+, or 35-40 for those with serious health issues) are the recommended clinical guidelines.
In addition, reputable clinics will interview you to confirm that you have made a reasonable effort at losing weight through conventional methods (diet and exercise), check that you don’t have underlying health problems that could make the surgery dangerous, and ensure that you are ready to commit to the lifelong change that surgery will bring.
And, a final word of caution from James Swain, M.D., Gastroenterologic and General Surgery/Director of Bariatric Surgery, Mayo Clinic:
Adjustable gastric banding isn’t a cure-all…
Patients still need to consistently make good food and exercise choices in order to lose weight. In essence, gastric banding provides people with an opportunity to consistently take in a smaller amount of calories while they’re moving forward with the other healthy steps that are necessary to lose weight.
References:
- “Gastric Banding” Not a Stand-alone Weight Loss Solution
- Types of Bariatric Surgery
- Information on Bariatric Surgery
- Adjustable Gastric Banding and Conventional Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Through the Physician’s Eyes: Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery on Comorbid Conditions
- Weight Loss Surgery: Gastric Bypass
Why a Big Belly Could be Deadly
There is increasing evidence that belly fat is a greater health risk for cardiovascular disease than being overweight or obese.
Put simply, if you have a higher than ideal waist or a high waist-hip ratio you could be at risk of having a heart attack even when your weight is in the health body mass index (BMI) range. Hardly seems fair, does it? But according to researchers who tracked 12,785 people over a 14 year period gut fat more than doubles your risk of dying.
The team of researchers tracked two crucial measurements that are used as indicators of ideal weight and potential health problems:
- Body mass index (also known as BMI)
- Waist to Hip Ratio
The BMI is a ratio of your weight to your height which falls into several classifications to let you know whether you are normal weight, underweight, overweight or obese.
To calculate your BMI click here
Waist to Hip Ratio
A healthy waist to hip ratio for women is less than .85
A healthy waist to hip ratio for men is less than .90
To instantly calculate your waist to hip ratio click here
The researchers then divided all the participants into one of six categories according to their BMI and waist-hip ratio.
- Normal weight / normal waist-hip ratio
- Normal weight / high waist-hip ratio
- Overweight / normal waist-hip ratio
- Overweight / high waist-hip ratio
- Obese weight / normal waist-hip ratio
- Obese weight / high waist-hip ratio
The big surprise was that people of normal weight with a high waist-hip ratio were 2.1 times more likely to die – than people who were overweight or obese.
How could that be? At this stage scientists are unsure, although theories abound. But the bottom line is that if you want to live a long life knowing your body mass index is only part of the equation – you need to watch your waist-hip ratio and aim to get it into a healthy range.
Celebrity Body Mass Index and Weight Statistics (Men)
We recently checked the BMI statistics of popular female celebrities and found that Paris Hilton, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift are underweight according to the BMI Scale. Today, let’s take a look at the stats of some of your favourite male celebrities to see whether the BMI scale classifies them as normal, underweight or overweight.
Body mass index (BMI) is calculated using the same formula for both men and women. The normal range for both men and women is a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.99 but what happens when your favourite hunky male celebrity beefs up his biceps and works hard to get washboard flat six pack abs?
Athletic and muscular men may look great and be in the pink of health but be classified as ‘overweight’ on the BMI Charts because the Body Mass Index calculation doesn’t take into account muscle density.
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine weighs in at between 200-215 pounds (approx 91-98 kilograms). Surprisingly, his BMI shows this as being overweight.
Male Celebrity Body Mass Index and Weight Statistics
| Celebrity | Height | Weight | Body Mass Index | BMI Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Pitt | 5'11" | 155-160 lbs | 21.6 - 22.3 | Normal weight |
| Channing Tatum | 6’1” | 181 lbs | 23.9 | Normal weight |
| Hugh Jackman | 6’2″ | 200-215 lbs | 25.7 - 27.6 | Overweight |
| Michael Phelps | 6'4" | 194 lbs | 23.6 | Normal weight |
| Robert Pattinson | 6'1" | 171-176 lbs | 22.5 - 23.2 | Normal weight |
Why does the BMI Scale rate Hugh Jackman as overweight?
Huge Jackman buffed himself up for his role as Wolverine creating a finely sculpted body that women around the world drooled over.
It’s hard to believe that a buffed up Hugh Jackman is overweight but the Body Mass Index calculation would have us believe that he needs to lose weight as it takes no account of the composition of the weight. Body builders and athletes may appear to be overweight on the BMI Scale because they have a lot of muscle mass even though they are a healthy weight for their height. So, always remember when you are checking your Body Mass Index that it is only a guideline and check with your doctor if you are concerned about your weight.
Celebrity Body Mass Index and Weight Statistics (Women)
Have you ever wondered how much your favourite celebrities weigh or whether their weight falls into the healthy BMI (Body Mass Index) weight range?
Now you can check out the vital stats of some of your favourite female celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton here at http://www.bodymassindex-bmi.com…
| Celebrity | Height | Weight | Body Mass Index | BMI Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Kardashian | 5’3″ | 117-125 lbs | 20.7 - 22.1 | Normal weight |
| Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta | 5’1” | 95 lbs | 17.9 | Underweight |
| Paris Hilton | 5'8" | 115-120 lbs | 17.5 - 18.2 | Underweight |
| Taylor Swift | 5'10-5'11" | 120-125 lbs | 16.7 - 17.9 | Underweight |
| Vanessa Hudgens | 5'3" | 120 lbs | 21.2 | Normal weight |
According to the Body Mass Index calculations Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga are considered underweight. However, the tables are only a guideline and other factors are considered before determining whether someone is underweight.
Is BMI (Body Mass Index) calculated the same for Men and Women?
Calculating Body Mass Index (BMI) for adult men and women:
The BMI (Body Mass Index) calculation for adult men and women is the same.
The Body Mass Index is a ratio of your height and weight which is evaluated against BMI Tables. The BMI Tables give a range of “ideal” weights for your height and let you know whether your Body Mass Index is within the normal range, underweight or overweight.
The Body Mass Index calculation is only a general guide as there are many other factors that indicate whether you are an appropriate weight for your height.
Image credit: Bob B. Brown
How to Measure Your Waist Circumference with Dr Oz
Who can use the BMI?
The Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation is designed for adults between the ages of 18 and 65 years. The BMI is not suitable for you if:
- You are outside this age range
- Pregnant
- A nursing or lactating woman
- A competitive athlete
- A body builder
- Have a muscular build
- Are convalescing or have lost significant body tone
Some individuals from ethnic groups of slight build, such as Singaporeans, may find that the BMI tables underestimate their body fat and show them to be of normal weight when they are overweight.
The Body Mass Index calculation is only a guideline. Please consult a doctor to assess your health and weight.
Should I count my clothing when I weigh myself for BMI?
The BMI is calculated based on a person wearing no clothes. However wearing light clothes or underwear is fine and no adjustment is necessary.
You should remove your shoes before weighing yourself.
If you are wearing heavy clothes then an adjustment of your weight may be necessary. Try weighing your clothes separately to calculate the difference.
Welcome to the BMI Index Calculator
Instantly calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI):
- Standard/Imperial version (Pounds/Inches)
- Metric version (kilograms/centimetres)