Weight-Loss Surgery – Who Qualifies?
February 2nd, 2011Darin McCloud is a 20-stone man. He consulted a weight-loss clinic but was said he wasn’t heavy enough to qualify for a weight-loss surgery.
NHS Portsmouth only considers people with BMI of 45 or above for weight-loss surgery. What is more, to qualify the patients should also suffer from obesity-related diseases in order to qualify.
Mr. McCloud has been turned down as his BMI was “only” 40, even though he’s been diabetic.
As he is desperate to lose weight, he had an idea: to put on more in order to qualify for the procedure.
Now he eats lots of fast and processed foods in hope he becomes bigger.
Mr. McCloud tried dieting but he was unsuccessful. He finds a weight-loss surgery not only will help him to get his body back but also will cure his diabetes.
He applied for the operation in February 2009. He has put a stone and a half so far, and his BMI is 43.5 at the moment.
Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones from NHS Portsmouth reckons the rules should change so that patients with lower BMI are allowed the weight-loss surgery, as in longer terms that would save the NHS lots of money.
The current situation does not allow that, as the NHS does not have enough funds to be able to afford the surgeries for the patients with BMI below 45.









