Waist to Hip Ratio????

[Dana36 0]

Has anyone had a hospital NOT allow the surgery to take place because the your waist to hip ratio exceeds .85????? I'm possibly facing this and wanting to know if anyone else has had to deal with this??

[JUKU 1]

Have never heard of that!!

[Jachut 487]

WTF? Weight loss surgery is for OBESE people - surely a good percentage of them are going to have a waist hip ration above 0.85? That's insane!

[UpperWestSide 3]

I don't know if this is the same thing but my Dr. looked at the length between my waist and chest and said it was too long to do the single incision method. (so I have little scars) But I have never heard about not being able to do the surgery at all. That does not sound right.

[Dana36 0]

It seems to be a rule of the hospital that I am supposed to have the surgery at. They say that there is a bigger risk of complications of surgery if the waist/hip ratio is larger than .85. When I started researching this hospital, I like them because of the lower complication rate.. hell, I didn't know that meant that they turn people away left and right because they don't fit the standards of what they consider 'perfect candidate'.

I'm on all liquids at this point and think that I have all of my measurements where they need to be... but it is still disheartening to know that I've worked so hard to get the insurance company to approve the surgery, and now the hospital may send me home on monday!

[luluc 6]

. They say that there is a bigger risk of complications of surgery if the waist/hip ratio is larger than .85. !

i officially will no longer be surprised @ what i read here....

i think this is most rediculous! obese, is obese, is obese -

so are you scheduled for surgery on monday & they haven't taken your measurements yet?

my first measurements were 3 months post op when i hired a trainer - if they turn you away, i'd find another surgeon w/out this rediculous requirement.

[Dana36 0]

i officially will no longer be surprised @ what i read here....

i think this is most rediculous! obese, is obese, is obese -

so are you scheduled for surgery on monday & they haven't taken your measurements yet?

my first measurements were 3 months post op when i hired a trainer - if they turn you away, i'd find another surgeon w/out this rediculous requirement.

Here is how it played out.. I went to the surgeon in august for my final appointment. His assistant did my measurements on that date. I thought it was just for a reference point.. didn't think anything of it.

He told me at that point to start the preop diet, liquids during the day, and one lean and green meal at night.

The insurance approved me on Thursday. It is a 30 day approval. His office called and said that they have one opening, and that is this monday. So, they scheduled me for surgery on monday.

His office called me that evening and asked if I could come in that there was some issues with my 'ratio'. I left work early and went to the office.

That is when the dr explained to me that the hospital has this stupid rule that they have started enforcing about the hip/waist ratio being less than .85. He said that when he saw me in August mine was .89. He said that after they sent the information down to the hospital, the hospital called back and told him to cancel my surgery because of the high ratio.

He told them that he had not seen me in about a month and he demanded that they keep my surgery spot open until he could measure me again. He weighed me and I had lost 16 pounds on the pre op diet. My measurements fell at .849... so I am BARELY under the mark. He told the hospital to leave my surgery scheduled.

He warned me that they may measure me again on monday morning.. and with a percentage that close to the cut off point, he is worried that they will cancel me if they measure me again on monday.. I mean, a fraction of an inch can throw me off.

He put on me on all liquid and told me to NOT gain one ounce over the weekend.

When I weighed this morning, I was down 4 more pounds from when I had seen him on Thursday afternoon.. and my measurements are coming down a little bit.. but I'm still worried!

I've researched this hip/ratio crap and it is a 'better' way to tell if someone is morbidly obese or at risk of heart disease.. etc..

Here is a calculator: UMMS: Waist to Hip Ratio

When I put in my mother's measurements, here is what it says:

Your Waist to Hip Ratio is 0.88 and appears to indicate an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Now.. my mother weighs 103 pounds. Her waist measurement is 31 inches, her hips 35 inches.

If I put in the measurements for someone who's waist is 60 inches and hips are 75 inches, this is what is says:

Your Waist to Hip Ratio is 0.8 and appears to be within a healthy range.

This is a big old crock of crap that is going to mess a lot of us up if this catches on at a lot of hospitals!!!!

[luluc 6]

wow dana, i would be a bundle of nerves!

i sure hope you get the surgery , please let us know.

just for giggles i did the test:

weight this am - 125.2lb

waist - 30in

hips - 34in

result: Your Waist to Hip Ratio is 0.88 and appears to indicate an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes

good thing i got the band when i did:)

again, fingers crossed for ya

[Dana36 0]

Okay, today is the day! I have to be at the hospital (about 2 hours away) in 3 hours, so have to start getting ready. I won't lie, I'm a bundle of nerves. I'm scared they won't do the surgery, and I'm scared they will! LOL

Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!

[crzytchr 3]

Good luck with your surgery this morning!

[Dana36 0]

okay, i've had the surgery. The dr was running behind yesterday and instead of my surgery happening at 10:15, it was closer to 3:30. I feel awful. I'm not new to surgeries, and I have to say that this one hurts like hell.

[Band_Groupie 3]

Dana- CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm SO glad you weren't turned away!

This W/H ratio requirement is crazy. I'm now in the "Overweight" BMI category at 191 lbs. and if you looked at me you would say I'm a 'pear'. My W/H ratio came out at .88 'increased risk'.

I found that there is at least one hospital in our area that turns down patients at increased risk (but I'm sure they don't use this criteria) as the one I went to takes on all the risky patients. You're right, it's just a matter of keeping their numbers 'good' and I'm sure the increased risk patients have an average higher cost for complications or extra aftercare. This is crazy!

Again, so glad the surgery happened for you! And it WILL get better...sip, sip, sip and walk, walk, walk. It's all worth it. Best wishes! -BG

[incolorado 1]

okay, i've had the surgery. The dr was running behind yesterday and instead of my surgery happening at 10:15, it was closer to 3:30. I feel awful. I'm not new to surgeries, and I have to say that this one hurts like hell.

Congratulations! Take those pain meds!

The W/H ratio thing is ridiculous. I just put in my numbers and it gave me .78, "healthy range." Yet, I have at least 75 lbs to lose at 219!

Sorry you had this additional worry, really unfair. And welcome to the Banded Side!

[luluc 6]

oh i am SO glad you got your surgery.!.

like coloradomom said - stay on top of your pain meds, it does get better.

congrats!

[thamilton 0]

Wow, that was ridiculous to put you through all of that! You are having the surgery to lose weight so you are no longer at risk for those things...ugh! I am so glad you were able to have your surgery, and I wish you a speedy recovery. It does get better, just hang in there.