What is BMI and other weight loss terms.

BMI: (Body Mass Index) A number that allows us to compare people of different height and body-frame size on the basis of their obesity. BMI is calculated by dividing the patient’s body weight by their surface area (BMI=Weight/Height2); a BMI of 20 to 25 is associated with a healthier life.

Obesity: Excessive fat in body tissues; usually defined as having a BMI of 30 or greater.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: A weight loss surgical procedure used to create the feeling of a smaller stomach. This is accomplished by placing a balloon around the upper portion. The balloon can be adjusted over time to optimize results.

Roux-En-Y (roo-en-why) Gastric Bypass Surgery: A weight loss surgical procedure in which the stomach is greatly reduced in size, allowing patients to feel full on much less food; in addition a portion of the intestinal tract is bypassed to further reduce the amount of calories taken in by the body.