Your eligibility for a gastric band will be decided based on your Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a useful benchmark for body weight and health.
To calculate your BMI, you have to divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres. You then divide that answer by your height and this gives you your BMI.
To be eligible for gastric band surgery, you must have a BMI of 40 or more, or a BMI between 35 and 40 and a serious health condition that may improve with weight loss.
To put these figures in perspective, a BMI over 25 suggests you're overweight, while 30-39 indicates that you are obese. A BMI of 40 and above indicates that you are morbidly obese.