Calculates data relevant to the pre-surgical phase of bariatric surgery. Will calculate factors important in determining eligibilty for bariatric surgey and estimate the weight loss range for the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery approved procedures.

Terminology

• Ideal Body Weight (IBW) – is a term that refers to the weight that is considered to be healthy and appropriate for a person based on their height, age, and sex. There are several different methods for calculating ideal body weight.
• Excess Weight – is the amount of weight a person is above their ideal body weight.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) – is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. It is used to determine whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. To calculate BMI, you divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. The resulting number is then placed on a chart to determine your BMI category. It’s important to note that BMI is just one tool for evaluating body weight and is not a direct measure of body fat. It may not be accurate for everyone, particularly athletes and people with a lot of muscle mass, as muscle weighs more than fat. Additionally, BMI does not consider differences in body composition, such as the distribution of fat in the body. BMI can be a useful tool for assessing the general health risks associated with being underweight or overweight, but it should not be used as the sole criterion for diagnosing obesity or determining the need for weight loss. Other factors, such as waist circumference, body fat percentage, and overall health, should also be considered.
  • BMI categories are as follows:
  • Underweight: BMI less than 18.5
  • Normal weight: BMI between 18.5 and 24.9
  • Overweight: BMI between 25 and 29.9
  • Obese: BMI 30 or greater
• Obesity Classification– According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the following BMI categories are used to classify obesity:
  • Class 1 obesity: BMI of 30 to 34.9
  • Class 2 obesity: BMI of 35 to 39.9
  • Class 3 obesity (also known as “severe” or “morbid” obesity): BMI of 40 or higher
• Percent Excess Weight Loss (%EWL) – %EWL is a measure of how much weight a person has lost relative to their excess weight. Excess weight is the amount of weight a person is above their ideal body weight based on factors such as height, age, and sex. %EWL is calculated by dividing the weight loss by the excess weight and multiplying by 100. For example, if a person has an excess weight of 100 pounds and loses 50 pounds, their %EWL would be 50%. %EWL is often used to assess the effectiveness of weight loss interventions, such as diet and exercise programs or weight loss surgery. It is generally considered to be a more accurate measure of weight loss success than total weight loss, as it takes into account the person’s starting weight and considers only the weight that is above their ideal body weight. It’s important to note that %EWL is just one factor to consider when evaluating the success of a weight loss intervention. Other factors, such as changes in body composition (e.g., loss of fat mass versus muscle mass), overall health, and quality of life, should also be taken into account.
• Percent Total Weight Loss – Percent total weight loss is a measure of the amount of weight that a person has lost, expressed as a percentage of their initial body weight. It is calculated by dividing the amount of weight lost by the initial body weight and multiplying by 100. For example, if a person who weighs 200 pounds loses 20 pounds, their percent total weight loss would be 10% (20 pounds / 200 pounds * 100). This measure is often used to track progress in weight loss programs and to assess the effectiveness of different weight loss interventions.