Adolescent Bariatric Surgery
What Is an Adolescent Bariatric Surgery?
At the Adolescent Healthy Weight Program, we provide gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, for people ages 13 to 17 who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 or higher and at least 1 accompanying risk factor, such as diabetes. This procedure reduces the size of the stomach, which helps people eat less and feel full faster. It can also reduce insulin resistance, a condition that can lead to increased hunger and weight gain.
Research shows that bariatric surgery helps teenagers lower their BMI and reverse or significantly reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. By reducing the risk of these obesity-related disorders earlier in life, surgical treatment can help prevent illness in teens and lead to better health as adults.
Candidates for Surgery
In general, adolescent weight loss surgery is only performed when conventional weight-loss methods, such as diet and exercise, have been unsuccessful. Qualifying candidates include those whose weight has impacted their ability to function or whose weight, if left untreated, may lead to medical complications. In general, this refers to adolescents with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 and adolescents with a BMI of at least 35 who already have significant weight-related illnesses.
Evaluation
Even for teens who meet the BMI standards for bariatric surgery, further evaluation is done to make sure they have the physical and emotional maturity to handle the surgical experience and follow-up care.
Typically, the evaluation process begins at least six months before any surgery and includes the following:
Procedure
Eligibility for Adolescent Bariatric Surgery
- Age 15 to 20 at the time of surgery
- Patients are followed until age of 22 years
- Body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 or BMI greater than 35 with medical complications related to obesity, including high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, or liver disease
- A documented history of weight management and weight loss attempts with supervised diets and exercise programs
- No indication of active drug addiction, alcoholism, or untreated major psychiatric disorder
- The candidate must be done growing
Risks and Complications
Because bariatric procedures reduce the size of the stomach, patients may face the following complications and risks as they adjust to this change:
Benefits
How Do We Treat Childhood Obesity?
If your child is obese and you’re not sure what your options are, don’t worry. Doctors have been studying the issue of childhood obesity for decades and have found that there are treatments that are effective for children and adolescents in the long run. The first line of defense is diet and lifestyle changes, and these can be effective when they are properly adhered to.
However, the biggest problem with any sort of behavioral modification for obesity is that many patients simply do not adhere to them. Putting your child on a diet can be difficult, and making sure they stay on that diet when you aren’t able to monitor them at all times (such as when they’re at school or out with friends) can be next to impossible.
