Table 2.

 Criteria of suitability for obesity surgery (see Heymsfield and colleagues⁴⁷)

• Only considered in those receiving intensive management in specialist hospital obesity clinic.

• All appropriate and available non-surgical measures attempted but failed to maintain weight loss.

• Aged 18 years or above.

• BMI ⩾40 kg/m2 or BMI 35–40 kg/m2 plus comorbidities that would benefit from weight loss.

• Established complications from obesity or at risk of developing complications.

• Understand the medical need for weight loss and mechanisms of surgical operation.

• Understand the potential risks and benefits of surgery.

• Have realistic expectations of long term outcome from surgery.

• No past history of significant psychiatric illness including eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa.

• No history of alcoholism.

• Reliable appointment keeping and ability to follow medical and dietetic advice.

• No significant medical complication that contraindicates general anaesthesia or surgery.

BMI, body mass index.