Can You Be Too Old or Too Young to Get Bariatric Surgery?
Obesity affects people of all ages, leaving many to question if they are either too old or too young for weight loss surgery. While candidates are usually between the ages of 18 and 65, there are exceptions when bariatric surgery may be performed on someone younger or older.
Regardless of your age, if you’re struggling to lose weight, weight loss surgery may be right for you. Gastric bypass can help patients lose weight and maintain long term results. It’s important to speak with a bariatric surgeon to determine whether bariatric surgery is right for you. Contact Tijuana Bariatrics in Tijuana, Mexico, to find out if you’re a candidate.
Bariatric Surgery and Age
Most bariatric surgery patients are between the ages of 18 and 65 but that does not mean only people within this age range are candidates. Because obesity can have such a huge impact on overall health, there can be compelling reasons to perform gastric bypass on teenagers younger than 18 or adults over 65.
When determining if someone is too old or too young for bariatric surgery, it’s important to consider their personal health and if the potential benefits of bariatric surgery outweigh the risks. With this in mind, let’s look at some factors considered when determining whether someone is the right age for bariatric surgery.
High BMI
BMI, which stands for body mass index, is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight. BMI is an estimate of how much body fat a person has and can be helpful in evaluating a person’s risk for diseases associated with obesity.
A BMI that’s 40 or greater is considered very high. A high BMI could be considered a good reason to perform bariatric surgery on someone, even if they are younger than 18 or older than 65.
In some cases, patient’s with a BMI as low as 35 may be good candidates for weight loss surgery if they also have health problems related to their weight and diet and exercise are not helping with weight loss.
Experiencing Weight-Related Health Problems
Obesity is linked to many health problems, affecting obese teens and adults of all ages. High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiovascular issues are just some of the serious health complications related to obesity.
In many cases, losing weight and maintaining a healthy BMI can help improve health and prevent certain future health problems. For some, it can even put type 2 diabetes into remission or help improve control the disease.
Unable to Lose Weight Even with Dieting and Exercising
Before being considered a candidate for bariatric surgery in Tijuana, patients must have made attempts to lose weight through diet and exercise. When such lifestyle changes have not resulted in losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight, bariatric surgery may be helpful.
Find Out if Bariatric Surgery Is Right for You
For more information about weight loss surgery in Tijuana or to find out if you’re a candidate, contact Tijuana Bariatrics to schedule a consultation.
