At my clinic, you would be a candidate for weight loss surgery if you have a BMI of 40 or greater, or a BMI of 35-39 and at least one obesity-related medical condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea or degenerative joint disease. So, I guess it might depend on how tall you are or what other conditions you may have.

People were telling me that too. My body hides wt well. I just told them how much I weighed. They were so stunned they shut up. I have a friend who is 5'11" she looks like a model at 160. It is all about BMI for your ht

Ditto this ^^^

Funny, the same people are telling me to stop losing now, (I can wear a size 6 and I'm 5'6") and are stunned to silence when I tell them I'm still over 150 pounds. Not that this is a bad weight, (I'm THRILLED with my progress), but my goal has always been to land firmly in the middle of the healthy BMI range (about 135) as it is typical for folks to gain some from their lowest weight and I don't want to struggle in maintenance long term.

Very glad your insurance will cover - that is awesome! Most of them are just downright silly... Mine would not cover me because I was not overweight "enough" (whatever that means... as if my problems from being 80 pounds overweight were so different than if I were 100...). My two courses of action were (1) gain 20 pounds first (really?! I dont think so) or (2) self pay.

Of course, I confirmed with my insurance company that even though they were not willing to pay the under $10k it would have cost them for surgery that would CORRECT my blood pressure issues and PREVENT type 2 diabetes (which was on its way), they would HAPPILY continue paying for my blood pressure meds FOR LIFE, any insulin and meds needed for said diabetes, a kidney transplant should that diabetes get really out of control, rehab for a stroke caused by high blood pressure out of control, etc. Easily costing them in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in obesity related costs. I really do not understand their cost/benefit analysis in situations like these.

Thanks!
I am 5 ft 180 and did get approved by insurance (I have really good insurance) with only high cholesterol! I just have people telling me that i am not big enough to warrant surgery.... But they are all smaller and haven't struggled to loose form15 yrs the way that I have.

I'm 5'6" and at 235 pounds, most people (except my PCP and my bariatric surgeon) told me the same. My BMI was 37.5 and I had an armload of health conditions that were killing me. And yes, I was "only" between 85-100 pounds over weight. I was approved by insurance on the first try. Sailed through the procedure and now enjoy good health and an active lifestyle, medication free.

Yes. I was 205 on the day of my consult. My BMI was over 35 and I had two co-morbidities, so my insurance (BCBS) covered the surgery. I gained to 212 between my consult and the start of the 2 week pre-op diet. I lost 15 pounds during the 2 week pre-op diet and so I was 197 on the day that I was sleeved. I'm pretty sure that I was still in the morbidly obese category at 197. My husband said that it said "morbidly obese" on my chart. I am 5'3". I lost to my goal of 130 in just under 9 months. I can eat anything now and the restriction is much less, but I still do feel full much sooner than I ever did before. My weight has fluctuated up and down the past 3 months - up when I eat whatever I want and only down when I track and monitor what I eat. In the past 3 months, I have been as high as 138 or 139, currently at 135 after a weekend of not tracking. My surgery was on 7/9/13, so I just passed one year. Hope that helps. :-)

I also have sleep apnea and my cholesterol is only a few points high.