Choosing a Weight-Loss Program
Find out whether a medical or surgical weight-loss program at the Weight Management Center at Mount Auburn Hospital is right for you.
Candidacy for Medical Weight-Loss Program
You qualify for our medical weight-loss program if you are over 18 and:
- Aren’t pregnant
- Have a BMI of at least 30
- Will commit to long-term lifestyle and behavioral changes
- Will commit to regular follow-up visits with your doctor long-term
Candidacy for Weight-Loss Surgery
You may be a candidate for weight-loss surgery if you are over 18 and have:
- A BMI of 40, or a BMI of 35 and significant medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- Failed previous weight-loss efforts
- No untreated metabolic cause for obesity, such as thyroid or adrenal disorders
- No severe psychological or medical problems
- No dependency on drugs, alcohol or tobacco
- Willingness to commit to follow-up care for the rest of your life
What's My BMI?
Enter your height and weight into the adult BMI calculator to learn your BMI and corresponding weight-status category.
Insurance Coverage
Ask your insurance provider how you can qualify for coverage of weight-loss surgery. You may need to send your provider information about your:
- Weight history
- Periods of supervised weight loss
- Consultations with specialists, such as gastroenterologists, cardiologists or pulmonologists
Possible Weight-Loss Surgery Complications
Most people who get weight-loss surgery don’t experience complications. Many of the risks are the same as those involved with any surgical procedure. Before you decide to have surgery, consider the potential complications, including:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Infection at the surgical site
- Injury to the stomach, esophagus or surrounding organs
- Intolerance of certain foods
- Leak in your digestive tract
- Nausea
- Pain
Additional Bariatric Surgery Resources:
The American Society of Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery provides a Patient Learning Center which includes many topics related to weight loss surgery.
www.asmbs.org/patients