Am I A Candidate?

Generally speaking, anyone who is 100 pounds or more overweight is a candidate for bariatric, or weight-loss, surgery.  Specifically, candidacy is based on your Body Mass Index, or BMI.  Using the BMI Calculator on this page, enter your height and weight and calculate your BMI.  If your BMI is at least 30, then you could be a candidate for bariatric surgery.  

It should be noted that, bariatric surgery is usually reserved for people who are unable to achieve or maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise, people who are severely overweight, and who have health problems as a result. Remember, your body mass index (BMI) has to be at least 30 or higher (extreme obesity).  If you have any questions, just call our Bariatric Program Coordinators at 800.964.0525. We can answer all of your questions.

Patient Criterion
Bariatric (weight loss) surgery isn't for everyone.  It's a surgical procedure that poses some risks and requires permanent changes in your lifestyle. The N.E.W Program at Community Hospital of Long Beach requires all prospective patients to go through a careful screening process to determine whether they are a candidate for weight loss surgery.  Our professional weight loss team needs to be sure you are healthy enough for surgery, and during your pre-op consults and testing with our bariatric surgeons and medical team, that will be determined.  
                             
The N.E.W. Program does not perform bariatric surgery on people over the age of 74.  However, we have performed surgery on adolescents as young as age 12.  

Not a Candidate?
If you do not meet the surgical weight loss criteria or if you are not interested in surgical weight loss, we would be happy to discuss our Non-Surgical Weight Control Program with you.  Give us a call  at 800.964.0525