title: Eligibility for bariatric surgery among adults in England: analysis of a national cross-sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the number eligible for bariatric surgery and their sociodemographic characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used Health Survey for England 2006 data, representative of the non-institutionalized English population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number of people eligible for bariatric surgery in England based on national guidance is unknown. The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence criteria for eligibility are those with body mass index (BMI) 35-40 kg/m(2) with at least one comorbidity potentially improved by losing weight or a BMI > 40 kg/m(2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 13,742 adult respondents (≥18 years), we excluded participants with invalid BMI (n = 2103), comorbidities (n = 2187) or sociodemographic variables (n = 27) data, for a final study sample of 9425 participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The comorbidities examined were hypertension, type 2 diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease and osteoarthritis. Sociodemographic variables assessed included age, sex, employment status, highest educational qualification, social class and smoking status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  5.4% (95% CI 5.0-5.9) of the non-institutionalized adult population in England could meet criteria for having bariatric surgery after accounting for survey weights. Those eligible were more likely than the general population to be women (60.1% vs. 39.9%, p<0.01), retired (22.4% vs. 12.8% p<0.01), and have no formal educational qualifications (35.7% vs. 21.3%, p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of adults potentially eligible for bariatric surgery in England (2,147,683 people based on these results and 2006 population estimates) far exceeds previous estimates of eligibility. In view of the sociodemographic characteristics of this group, careful resource allocation is required to ensure equitable access on the basis of need.
authors: Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Imperial College London, London W6 8RP, UK.
authors: Ahmir
authors: A
authors: Ahmad
authors: Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Imperial College London, London W6 8RP, UK.
authors: Anthony A
authors: AA
authors: Laverty
authors: Department of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors: Erlend
authors: E
authors: Aasheim
authors: Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Imperial College London, London W6 8RP, UK.
authors: Azeem
authors: A
authors: Majeed
authors: Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Imperial College London, London W6 8RP, UK.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Millett
authors: Department of Primary Care & Public Health, Imperial College London, London W6 8RP, UK.
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Saxena
keywords: bariatric surgery; guidelines; obesity