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Calculate BMI

BMI, or Body Mass Index, is the most common way to classify an individual’s degree of obesity and can be used to determine if you're a good candidate for gastric lap band weight loss surgery. Your BMI correlates with your risk for severe health problems, and even risk of death.

BMI Interpretation:

< 18.5 = Underweight
18.5 - 24.9 = Normal
25.0 - 29.9 = Overweight
30.0 - 34.9 = Obesity (Class I)
35.0 - 39.9 = Obesity (Class II)
40.0+ = Extreme Obesity (Class III)

Here's the actual formula used to calculate your BMI:

BMI = (weight in pounds x 703) / (height in inches)²

According to NIH Guidelines (National Institute of Health), you're a good candidate for bariatric surgery if:

Your BMI is 40 or higher
Your BMI is 35-39.9 and you have have one or more weight related health conditions (called "comorbidities") such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, reflux, heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems, osteoarthritis, joint problems, etc.
You're at least 100 pounds over your estimated ideal weight

However, simply because you meet the technical weight criteria for gastric banding doesn't mean you're a good candidate for weight loss surgery. More about gastric lap-band criteria.

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