Knowing your Body Mass Index or BMI is the first step in determining whether you are a candidate for bariatric surgery. Simply punch your height and weight into our BMI calculator below to learn what your next steps should be.
Calculate Your BMI
Your Personalized Report
Morbidly Obese
>40
Severely Obese
35 - 39.9
Obese
30 - 34.9
Overweight
25 - 29.9
Healthy
18.6 - 24.9
Underweight
<18.5
Your BMI
If your BMI is above 40, you meet the first clinical qualification for bariatric surgery. Since surgery is only a tool, your doctor will also want to know that you are committed to the lifestyle changes and follow-up visits required after undergoing a bariatric procedure. The good news is that weight loss surgery has been shown in studies to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment for morbid obesity. (1)
1. Weiner, R.A., et al. (2010). Indications and principles of metabolic surgery. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 81(4) pp.379-394.
Your Next Step
Learn more about the bariatric procedures, including the Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Bypass, that have resulted in successful weight loss and improved health for our patients. See a side-by-side comparison of your weight loss options on our Choosing a Procedure page. If you are under 18, you may qualify for our Adolescent Bariatric Program. Or you can register for a weight loss surgery webinar or live seminar where our board-certified surgeons will review the most common procedures in detail, including risks and benefits, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions to help you determine whether surgery is right for you.
If your BMI is between 35 and 39.9, you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery if you also have an obesity-related illness, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea. These illnesses often go undiagnosed in patients with this BMI so the clinical team may require additional testing to see if you qualify. The good news is that weight loss surgery is shown to improve or resolve many obesity-related illnesses.
Your Next Step
Learn more about the bariatric procedures that resulted in successful weight loss and improved health for our patients, including Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Bypass. See a side-by-side comparison of your options at our Choosing a Procedure page. If you are under 18, you may qualify for our Adolescent Bariatric Program. Or you can register for a weight loss surgery webinar or live seminar, where our board-certified surgeons will review the most common procedures in detail, including risks and benefits and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions to help you determine whether surgery is right for you.
If your BMI is between 30 and 34.9, you have class 1 obesity, which puts you at a higher risk for obesity-related diseases. Your risk of developing health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems increases if you're obese and have other risk factors, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood cholesterol or triglycerides, or high blood glucose (sugar), a sign of type 2 diabetes. The good news is that weight loss of even just 5% to 10% has been shown to improve your odds.
Your Next Step
Depending on your other risk factors, there are several weight loss options – both surgical and non-surgical - available to you. You may be eligible for Low-BMI Surgery if you also have an obesity-related illness such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea. If you prefer a non-surgical approach, the gastric balloon may be right for you.
Or visit our Non-Surgical Weight Loss page to learn how prescription weight loss medications coupled with nutritional counseling can help you achieve sustainable weight loss.
For people in this BMI range, even a small amount of weight loss (between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight) will help lower your risk of developing obesity-related diseases.
Your Next Step
You could benefit from nutritional counseling and may be a candidate for prescription weight loss medications depending on your BMI and whether you suffer from weight-related illnesses. Our medical weight loss patients work one-on-one with our multidisciplinary team of doctors and dietitians to customize a program that provides sustainable results. Visit our weight loss blog to get strategies, recipes and advice that will help you reach and maintain your weight loss goals.
A BMI in this range is considered a healthy weight. If you’re a post-op bariatric patient or a non-surgical weight loss patient, good job! Remember to keep an active lifestyle and continue to eat a diet full of nutritious foods to maintain a healthy weight and preserve lean muscle mass.
Your Next Step
Visit our blog to read more about the good habits and nutrition that will help you maintain a healthy weight. Or schedule an appointment for a nutritional follow-up visit to ensure you stay on a healthy path.
A BMI under 18.5 is considered underweight. If you are underweight, you should consult with your primary care doctor, who will be able to help you determine whether there is an underlying cause for your low BMI and help you decide the proper course of treatment.
Now that you know your BMI, you may be a candidate for weight loss surgery if you:
- Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more.
- Have a BMI between 35 and 40 and one other severe obesity-related condition, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.
Since weight can fluctuate and co-morbidities often go undiagnosed, if you are bordering between either of these categories, we suggest you make an appointment with one of our doctors, who can accurately assess whether you qualify.
Don’t meet these qualifications? If you are interested in weight loss surgery but do not qualify because your BMI falls below the current guidelines, you may be eligible for weight loss surgery through a study being conducted by New Jersey Bariatric Center® surgeons through Atlantic Health’s Overlook Medical Center. Visit our Low BMI Bariatric Surgery page to learn more.
Other Qualifications for Bariatric Surgery
If you meet the BMI qualifications, the surgeons at the New Jersey Bariatric Center® will look at several other factors when determining whether you are an ideal candidate for weight-loss surgery.
- Are you dedicated to lifestyle change and follow-up? Weight loss surgery is not a quick fix. Long-term success depends on your commitment to changing your lifestyle and keeping with your schedule of follow-up visits. The New Jersey Bariatric Center®’s multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, including psychologists, dietitians and exercise specialists, supports you through the initial post-surgical period and beyond.
2. Have you been unsuccessful with other medically managed weight-loss programs? Bariatric surgery is a serious step that should not be considered until other weight-loss methods have proved unsuccessful.
3. Do you have a good support system? You won’t go through this alone. New Jersey Bariatric Center® staff ensures that, but your weight loss journey will also take the support of your family and friends.
4. Other factors to consider:
- Patients must be 15 and 69 years of age. Learn more about Adolescent Surgery for patients ages 15-18
- Patients must not have any uncontrolled psychological conditions.
- Patients must be free of drug or alcohol abuse.
- Patients need to be medically stable to undergo surgery. The New Jersey Bariatric Center® surgical team will evaluate you in consultation with your own medical doctors and other specialists, if needed, to ensure you are medically stable.
Want to learn more? Contact us or sign up for one of our free seminars to learn more.
Weight Loss Surgery
Learn more about the procedures that medical experts agree are the best chance for sustainable weight loss if you suffer from obesity.
Gastric bypass is the most performed bariatric procedure in the U.S., with a long history of safe and effective weight loss.
The gastric band is a minimally invasive procedure that works by limiting the amount of food you can eat in one sitting.
The sleeve gastrectomy helps you lose weight by reducing the size of your stomach so you eat less and feel full faster.