Its says on the NHS site.....
Potentially life-threatening obesity is defined as:
having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above
having a BMI of 35 or above and having another serious health condition that could be improved if you lose weight, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure
Weight loss surgery - NHS Choices
So basically you need a bmi of 40 or above unless your bmi 35 or above and have a illness that could be helped or easied by having the gastric band.
Ive also been told that a GP makses sure that you have tried at least 5 ways of losing weight...ie: weight watchers, excersize, slimming pills, atkins...etc....that you have been overweight/obese for more than so many years....
If only it was that simple
The figures quoted on the NHS webpage you put the link for, are the NICE guidelines. Unfortunatly that
does not mean if you have a BMI in this range that you will get NHS surgery.
Each PCT has their own criteria for which they will consider funding, mine for instance is:
Coventry - BMI over 45 with type 2 diabetes or BMI over 50 with comorbidities which are likely to be improved with weight loss or BMI over 65 without comorbidities. Patients must have failed to achieve or maintain weight loss after one years intensive management in a specialist obesity clinic setting.
Basically I didnt stand a cat in hells chance of getting NHS surgery unless I almost doubled my start weight.
KJF78's PCT is pretty harsh too:
Dudley - BMI over 60 or over 50 with serious comorbidities (ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes on oral medication or insulin, life-threatening sleep apnoea, severe uncontrolled hypertension, benign intracranial hypertension, transient ischemic attacks or stroke, severe lower limb major joint disease requiring orthopaedic intervention which is precluded on safety grounds due to patient’s BMI, severe dismobility due to obesity sufficient to affect essential activities of daily living). For Chinese and South East Asian patients, BMI levels as per NICE Guidelines.
Good luck with your consultation and whatever you decide to do KJF78 x