Skip to main contentLast updated: 07-Nov-2026
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Dr Harsh Shah
MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Registered with Gujarat Medical Council, Reg. No. G-38738
Stomach & Gastro Surgeon
Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad · 18 years of experience
In short
For Indians, weight-loss surgery is usually considered from a BMI of about 32.5 with a related illness, or about 37.5 without one.
Diabetes lowers the bar. Hard-to-control sugar can qualify you at a lower BMI, after a careful check with your diabetes doctor.
The BMI is only the start. Tests, past attempts at weight loss and your readiness for lifelong follow-up decide the final answer.
The operations, the tests and the follow-up are explained on our bariatric and metabolic surgery page. This post answers one question: do you qualify.
Indian and other Asian bodies carry more fat-related risk at a lower BMI, so the cut-offs are lower than the older Western ones.
BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres, squared. A BMI of 23 or more is already overweight for an Indian adult. Bariatric surgery is a step far beyond that.
| BMI range | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Below 27.5 | Surgery is not usually advised |
| 27.5 to 32.4 | May be considered if diabetes is poorly controlled despite treatment |
| 32.5 to 37.4 | Considered if you also have diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea or similar illness |
| 37.5 and above | Considered even without another illness |
These ranges follow accepted guidance for Asian adults. Different societies and insurers draw the lines in slightly different places, so we treat them as a guide to the conversation, not a pass or fail mark.
Type 2 diabetes that stays high on medicines is a medical reason for surgery in its own right, even at a lower BMI.
The operation changes gut hormones and food intake. Blood sugar often falls quickly, sometimes before much weight is lost. That is why the term metabolic surgery is used.
Surgery works better the earlier it is done, and it does not suit everyone. Read what to expect in our post on diabetes after weight-loss surgery.
Surgeons look at your illnesses, your past attempts to lose weight, your mental health and your ability to follow advice for life.
We also ask about low mood, binge eating, alcohol and smoking. These are not bars to surgery. They are things we treat first, because they affect how well you do afterwards.
Some conditions make surgery unsafe or unhelpful for now. Most can be treated first, and then the question is asked again.
A no today is not always a no forever. We tell you what to fix and when to come back.
A set of blood tests, a heart and lung check and usually an endoscopy confirm that surgery is safe for you.
| Check | Why it is done |
|---|---|
| Blood sugar, HbA1c, cholesterol | Shows how severe the diabetes and metabolic problem is |
| Thyroid, liver and kidney tests | Finds treatable causes and checks fitness |
| Vitamin D, B12 and iron | Gaps are corrected before surgery |
| Ultrasound of the liver and gallbladder | Looks for fatty liver and gallstones |
| Endoscopy of the stomach | Checks for ulcer, reflux damage or hernia |
| Heart, lung and sleep checks | Makes anaesthesia safer |
| Dietitian and counselling visit | Plans eating habits and support |
If surgery is right for you, the next question is which operation. We compare the two main choices in our post on sleeve or gastric bypass.
Bring your height, weight, diabetes records and old reports to a consultation. A careful first visit answers most of this.
Write down your highest and lowest adult weight, the diets you tried and for how long, and the medicines you take. This makes the visit short and useful. If surgery is not right yet, we plan what to change first, and we say so plainly.
For Indians, surgery is usually considered from a BMI of about 32.5 with a related illness, or about 37.5 without one. With diabetes, a lower BMI can qualify. Your surgeon looks at the whole picture, not the number alone.
Sometimes. If your diabetes is hard to control and your BMI is in the lower range, surgery can be offered after a careful check. It is decided case by case, with your diabetes doctor involved.
Yes. We expect that you have made real, supervised attempts to lose weight and keep it off. This does not mean years of failure. It means the problem has not been solved by lifestyle changes alone.
Most adults between the late teens and the mid-sixties are considered. Outside that range, we look at your general health and what surgery would add. Age alone does not decide it.
People with untreated eating disorders, active substance misuse, severe heart or lung disease that makes anaesthesia unsafe, or who cannot attend follow-up should wait. Pregnancy is also a reason to wait.
Cover differs between policies, and many ask for a BMI cut-off, a diet record and a written medical reason. Check your policy and bring the papers to the consultation, and we will help prepare the file.
Usually a few weeks. It includes blood tests, a heart and lung check, an endoscopy for most people, a diet review and a talk about what to expect. We do not hurry this part.
For the full range of weight-loss and metabolic surgery, start at the bariatric and metabolic surgery page. For questions before you travel, call +91-63555-64601.
Dr Harsh Shah — Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad
Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Dr Jivraj Mehta Marg, Vasna, Ahmedabad 380007.
Consultations, review of reports and scans, operations and follow-up. OPD Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.
Appointments: +91-63555-64601 · +91-63590-11009 · Hospital 079-2663 6363
Directions to the hospital · WhatsApp +91-63555-64601
Not sure if your weight and sugar are high enough for surgery? Dr Harsh Shah checks your BMI, your illnesses and your past attempts before telling you whether surgery is an option. Book a visit and bring your reports to the consultation. You can also call, or message us on WhatsApp. Call +91-63555-64601 Ask on WhatsApp
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