It goes without saying that exercise and proper diet are the best ways to lose weight. But it’s also true that there are a small percentage of people out there who have legitimately stuck with traditional diet and exercise routines and still can’t shed the extra poundage. Or maybe they have failed at diet after diet and now consider the risks of weight loss surgery to be less than the health problems they court by continued obesity.

It’s called gastric bypass surgery. ‘Tis a conundrum certainly. When should you think about weight loss surgery as a solution? It seemed to work out okay for formerly chunky celebs like Star Jones and Al Roker. Why not you?

But will a doctor consider you a candidate for the procedure? Maybe. Here’s what they are going to look at.

Have you tried and failed to lose weight with traditional diet and exercise?

Does your obesity come from a genetic source or has it progressed to the point that it is disabling or life threatening?

Have you had an extremely high Body Mass Index for more than five years?

You should have no history of drug or alcohol abuse and no untreated psychiatric disorder.

Are you between the ages of 18-65?

Being a good candidate for weight loss surgery means also understanding the procedure and having realistic expectations of the results. While the surgery should improve your physical appearance and general health, it may not be the magic bullet to turn your life around. Significant behavior modifications are also necessary.

If you believe gastric bypass or gastric band surgery is appropriate for you, check out the website here for more general information, then contact a doctor for further advice.

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