Navigating your way through the myriad weight loss treatments can be overwhelming, especially if your body mass index (BMI) is on the lower end of the chart. Many people ask the question, “Can I get weight loss surgery with a BMI of 30?” The answer is probably not what you think it is, because qualifying for bariatric surgery is not straightforward and involves many different things beyond just your BMI.
Today, we are going to talk about low BMI bariatric surgery, the qualifications needed to undergo bariatric surgery (the lowest BMI for gastric sleeve or gastric bypass), and options for medical weight loss help for those with lower BMI numbers.
Bariatric Surgery Eligibility
Bariatric surgery historically has had a very challenging qualification process. For over 30 years, it has been recommended only for individuals with a BMI of 40 or higher or people with a BMI of 35 or higher who also have obesity-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension. Eligibility for gastric sleeve or bypass surgery pretty much still requires a BMI of at least 35 with comorbidities or 40 without.
The issue with this criterion is that the standard BMI chart that doctors and insurance companies use to determine eligibility for many procedures, including weight loss surgery, is not an accurate tool to measure body fat percentages or to measure how healthy a person is. It does not take into consideration very important criteria like ethnicity, gender, age, and more.
A man can have a lower BMI and be more at risk for health concerns due to their weight if they are Asian vs. Caucasian. By the same token, an African-American woman may have a higher BMI than her Caucasian counterpart but be in better health. This is because certain ethnicities and genders have very different body compositions, genetic tendencies, and varying degrees of muscle mass, which the standard BMI chart does not account for. In fact, the BMI chart that we still use today was published in 1832 and was based entirely on Caucasian males.
Medical Insurance Companies Have Their Own Criteria
In addition to the surgeon’s requirements for bariatric surgery candidates, medical insurance companies each have their own qualifications that must be met if you are expecting them to pay all or some of the expenses.
The most common criteria to be considered for bariatric surgery required by medical insurance companies include:
- A patient must be at least 18 years old.
- They must meet all standard medical criteria for bariatric surgery.
- They must have documented proof of previous weight loss attempts using a structured program:
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- Either one program lasting for at least 6 months or two separate programs that were each at least 3 months long.
- These attempts must have occurred within the past 2 years.
- Examples of acceptable programs include Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig.
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- They also must complete a psychological evaluation to confirm that they understand and are ready:
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- To make permanent lifestyle changes.
- Are willing to make a lifelong commitment to a healthy, low-calorie diet.
- They are dedicated to maintaining a consistent exercise routine.
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BMI Guidelines For Bariatric Surgery Have Changed
According to the ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery), the guidelines for eligibility for bariatric surgery were updated in 2022 to include those with BMIs as low as 30 if they have significant health issues that are related to their weight.
As usual, things continue to move very slowly in the world of medical insurance, and many companies do not recognize these updated guidelines for low-BMI bariatric surgery and still adhere to the older criteria that state the lowest BMI considered is 35 and must be accompanied by serious comorbidities. This leaves many individuals in a bad situation because they would need to actually gain weight and become more unhealthy before they would qualify to get the help they are looking for with bariatric surgery.
What Are My Alternatives If I Do Not Qualify For Low BMI Bariatric Surgery?
If you are wondering how to lose weight if your BMI is 30 and you are seeking medical intervention for weight loss, but your low BMI does not qualify for bariatric surgery, there is very good news for you! There are many less invasive options that do not require surgery and have super short recovery times that can help you achieve sustainable weight loss. There are no incisions, and you do not need to spend even one night in the hospital.
Two of these options are endoscopic procedures that are done using a special medical device called an endoscope that allows the doctor to access your stomach through your mouth and throat. These two non-surgical endoscopic options include:
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG)
ESG involves using a suturing device that is inserted through the mouth and used to reduce the stomach size by reshaping the stomach and holding it in place with stitches. This limits the amount of food you can eat and helps you stay fuller for a longer time. The smaller stomach takes longer to empty and forces you to eat smaller portions, so you eat less and lose weight.
Gastric Balloons
A gastric balloon is a temporary device that is placed in your stomach to take up space, which makes you feel full while eating less food. The procedure only takes about 20 minutes and involves inserting the deflated balloon through the mouth and into your stomach using an endoscope and filling it with saline once it is placed in the correct location. The balloon remains in place for between six and eight months before it is removed using the same type of endoscopic procedure.
GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications
Another non-surgical option that is effective in helping individuals lose a significant amount of weight is prescription weight loss injections.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a certain group of medications that were originally created to treat type 2 diabetes for blood sugar regulation. The prescription medications semaglutide and tirzepatide demonstrated significant weight loss results during clinical trials and have become increasingly popular in the past few years.
These injections mimic hormones that are naturally produced by your body, which are responsible for ensuring your metabolism runs efficiently. The injections work with your natural hormones to enhance the performance of your metabolism, which helps control your appetite, promotes a feeling of fullness, and promotes weight loss.
Lifestyle Changes Make The Difference
Weight loss injections and endoscopic procedures are amazing non-surgical alternatives to traditional bariatric surgery to help you lose weight. Regardless of the weight loss intervention used, your success and results will require permanent lifestyle modifications like eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise.
Medical interventions can help make your weight loss journey easier, but they will not do all the work for you. You will need to be dedicated to making certain changes to your lifestyle if you want to reach and maintain a healthy weight long-term.
Reveal Weight Loss Offers Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options
If you are seeking help with weight loss and have too low a BMI for surgery or are looking for a less invasive type of medical intervention, contact Reveal Weight Loss today. Their team of weight loss experts can help determine the best solution for your needs and circumstances to help you achieve sustainable weight loss.
Dr. Avik Sarkar and Dr. Haroon Shahid are experts in endoscopic bariatric procedures with decades of experience in helping patients improve their health through weight loss. Set up your consultation today to learn more about your non-surgical options for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.
