If your BMI is 40 or greater, you may qualify for surgery. If your BMI is 35 to 40, you may qualify for surgery if you suffer from one or more of the following medical problems: Type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sleep apnea or other serious cardiac or pulmonary problems related to obesity.

Surgery is an option when other medical attempts at weight loss have failed. Thus bariatric surgery is an acceptable alternative when more conservative treatment has failed. It is very important to have detailed documentation of long-term diagnosis of morbid obesity and of attempts at weight loss by non-surgical means.

Finally, you have to be ready to make a life-long commitment to change your lifestyle.  You have to alter your eating habits, develop a routine exercise regimen, and commit to life-long medical follow-up. The final determination to proceed with surgery has to be made after a detailed evaluation by your surgeon.