New Guidelines for Bariatric and Weight Loss Surgery

Bariatric surgery has exploded in the past 30 years and has made huge strides in outcomes.

One reason is there has been a need to make revised recommendations to expand eligibility for weight loss surgery.

For several years, 31-year-old Heather Norris tried all kinds of diets to lose weight.

"I had back issues on top of my liver having issues, and this was the next step I could think of," Norris said.

She decided to have gastric sleeve surgery, which limits the size of the stomach and restricts the amount of food that can be consumed. At the time, she weighed 320 pounds. Norris said it had a huge impact.

"I'm down to 179 pounds," Norris said. "I am feeling very good."

According to Kuldeep Singh, M.D., FACS, MBA, FASMBS, a top weight loss surgeon in Maryland, and Director of The Maryland Bariatric Center at Mercy, bariatric surgery has come a long way.

"For the last 30 years, the scientific community has gathered more information about the outcomes, safety and benefits of bariatric surgery," Dr. Singh said.

New guidelines for the surgery have been put in place. BMI, or body mass index, is calculated by dividing a person's weight by their height. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BMI can help screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

"The guidelines now say the threshold for surgery used to be a body mass index of 40. Now it is BMI of 35 and in certain conditions, if somebody has a BMI of 30, with conditions like diabetes they would qualify for surgery," Dr. Singh said.

Norris' BMI was 39 when she got her surgery. She said since losing the weight, she feels more motivated and energized.

"It's the best thing I've ever did. My health has changed. I've been off of a lot of medications I was on. It helps with depression. I feel more comfortable in my skin and being around people. I'm happy to look at myself in the mirror," Norris said.

She said she still has work to do and hopes to get down to 150 pounds.

The new guidelines come from two groups of bariatric surgeons, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders.

View Mercy bariatric surgeon Dr. Kuldeep Singh's interview regarding weight loss surgery guidelines.