The Relationship of BMI with Demographic and Clinical Characteristics in the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) The LABS Writing Group [on behalf of for the LABS Consortium] * , Steven H. Belle, PhD, MScHyg, DCC, University of Pittsburgh William Chapman, MD, East Carolina Medical Center Anita P. Courcoulas, MD, MPH, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center David R. Flum, MD, University of Washington Michel Gagner, MD, Cornell University Medical Center William B. Inabnet, MD, Columbia University Medical Center Wendy C. King, PhD, DCC, University of Pittsburgh James E. Mitchell, MD, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute Emma J. Patterson, MD, Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital Richard Thirlby, MD, Virginia Mason Medical Center Bruce M. Wolfe, MD, and Oregon Health & Science University Susan Z. Yanovski, MD National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Abstract Background—Body Mass Index (BMI) is often used to characterize patient risk in bariatric surgery. Its relationship with other risk factors has not been well characterized. Objectives—To evaluate the relationship between BMI and demographic/clinical characteristics of patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Corresponding author: David R. Flum. MD MPH, Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Health Sciences Center, Box 356410, Seattle WA 98195-7183, Telephone-206-616-5440, Fax-206-543-8136, Email- E-mail: daveflum@u.washington.edu. * The LABS writing group for this manuscript included (in alphabetical order) NIH Public Access Author Manuscript Surg Obes Relat Dis. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2009 July 31. Published in final edited form as: Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2008 ; 4(4): 474–480. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2007.12.002. NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript