According to experts from UT Southwestern Medical Center, the existing criterion for body mass index for weight control surgery does not allow a number of people with problem weight and high heart risk to be treated.
According to experts from UT Southwestern Medical Center, the existing criterion for body mass index for weight control surgery does not allow a number of people with problem weight and high heart risk to be treated.
The body mass index is directly related to the risk of heart disease and accidents, says Dr. Edward Livingston, head of the surgery department at the center. Bariatric surgery requires patients to have a BMI of more than 40, up to 25, or 35 if concomitant life-threatening conditions are present.
According to a study at the center, the risk of heart disease is not directly proportional to obesity. The results show that patients with a higher degree of obesity are in better health than those whose BMI is lower. Then they would also benefit from surgery, although their obesity is not morbid (ie with a BMI> 40).
Professor Nicolas Abeit, a specialist in internal medicine, says there are probably people whose fat cells can store fat without affecting serum lipids. However, there is an inverse relationship - in some individuals, serum lipids rise regardless of the degree of overweight. Then their body mass index will not reflect heart risk.