Remember the days of friends or neighbors telling you they had to "gain weight" to qualify for bariatric (weight loss) surgery? If that doesn't sound ridiculous, I don't know what does. Those days are over. As of January of this year, the FDA advisory panel has adopted new weight guidelines to be approved for the lap-band procedure. The lap-band procedure involves having an adjustable band placed around the upper part of your stomach and filled with saline. This makes a small pouch that can hold just a minimal amount of food. The connection between the pouch and remaining stomach affects how fast food passes into the stomach. The banding procedure limits food consumption and gives a person a full sensation. It also increases the time needed for food to digest. Unlike gastric bypass, the gastrointestinal system is left intact to maintain normal absorption of nutrients. Women that have the lap band procedure are still able to become pregnant, though the band may need to be adjusted during pregnancy.The old guidelines were as follows- a BMI (body mass index) of 40 without health problems, or 35 with chronic disease (sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease). Basically, a person had to be morbidly obese to qualify for surgery.The new FDA guidelines allow persons with a BMI of 30 with at least one obesity-related condition to qualify for surgery. This opens the doors for many more people to obtain surgery before developing complications of obesity.While lap-band surgery is not for everyone, one study found the average weight loss to be ~36% three years after surgery with over half losing at least 25% of excess weight. In addition, one clinical trial of 30 obese, diabetic patients found that 22 (73%) had remission of their diabetes after surgery. Diet and lifestyle changes are still necessary for successful weight management long term. To see if you qualify for surgery, talk with your doctor. The link below will help you calculate your BMI.http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.