I am 5'7" and weigh 251 which puts me at 39 BMI. My insurance states that if you do not have a risk factor you must be at 40 BMI for 24 months. I'm not sure if I have a risk factor - I have pains in my chest and get heartburn often which I hear is a sign of heart trouble. Anyway if the risk factor does not pan out I want to be able to have this surgery 24 months from now.

Should I go ahead and gain the extra 5 pounds to put me at 40 BMI when I go to the doctor? I know I can diet and get these pounds back off after the doctor visit b/c I can lose weight with some work; but, I always gain it back plus some.

My fear is that I go to the doctor at 39 BMI and I continue to lose and gain back more which will put me over 40 BMI. That's going to put me behind for getting the lapband.

I don't know if this makes sense. Basically, every year I diet, lose some weight and gain more back; so why not go ahead and gain 5 pounds and get the clock ticking?

What would you do? :confused_smile:

You may have "risk factors" and don't realize it. Your frequent heartburn is probably one. Find out what the criteria is for your specific insurance carrier.

I'm fairly new at all this too, but from what I've learned, risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, abnormal blood glucose, joint pain, decreased mobility, asthma, breathing issues and all sorts of things you have learned to live with.

Talk to your PCP as well.

Gaining 5lbs weight may be an option, but be fully informed before you binge. Good luck.

I was 34 BMI one pound short of 35 BMI which I needed for my insurance with my high blood pressure - I stuck a one pound wieght in my pocket (shhhhh don't tell anyone) that was after the nurse at the seminar said "Make sure you wear heavy clothes when you come see the doctor"

Good Luck!

Hi Quinny. Do you have a primary care doctor that you see regularly? That doctor will better be able to tell you if you have any of the "risk factors" (the medical profession calls them "co-morbidities") that you're talking about.

Just putting on 5 lbs to get to a BMI of 40....I guess that'd work if you want to wait 2 years for your band. I'd bet that your doc could find at least one co-morbidity and get you started much sooner, though.

I was 34 BMI one pound short of 35 BMI which I needed for my insurance with my high blood pressure - I stuck a one pound wieght in my pocket (shhhhh don't tell anyone) that was after the nurse at the seminar said "Make sure you wear heavy clothes when you come see the doctor"

Good Luck!

I needed to gain 5-10 pounds before I qualified for my lap band procedure. It's really pathetic but it does make a little sense that the insurance companies need to set guidelines. I went out to eat every night for 2 weeks, I binged and drank malteds daily. It was a piece of cake gaining the weight.

One's weight can fluctuate so much just in 24hrs. What a shame about insurance guidelines. I too would stuff things in secret places to gain the extra weight. Not worth binge eating to do so if only for a few lbs!!