A 1991 National Institutes of Health consensus paper stated that bariatric surgery was appropriate in those patients who had a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or over. A 2004 consensus paper from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery stated that surgery in patients with a BMI between 30 and 35 may be indicated and needs further study, according to the report.
Other physicians said in the report that earlier surgery could prevent patients’ chances of experiencing more severe weight-related adverse events, whereas others felt that medical management and other nonsurgical weight-loss methods should be implemented before turning to bariatric surgery.
Many physicians are concerned about the long-term effects bariatric surgery at lower weights could have, and although the study showed that surgery was more effective than medical management for weight loss, many physicians would like to see analyses looking at differences in other factors, such as cost and adverse events, according to the report.
Read the AMNews report about bariatric surgery at lower weights.
