Who Is a Candidate for Obesity Surgery?
You may be a candidate for surgery if you have:
Surgery for Obese Adolescents
With childhood obesity on the rise, bariatric surgery is sometimes considered a treatment option for adolescents who are severely overweight. However, there are many concerns about the long-term effects of this type of operation on adolescents' developing bodies and minds.
Experts in pediatric overweight and bariatric surgery recommend that surgical treatment only be considered when adolescents have tried for at least six months to lose weight and have not been successful. Candidates should be severely overweight (BMI of 40 or more), have reached their adult height (usually 13 or older for girls, 15 or older for boys), and have serious weight-related health problems (such as type 2
diabetes or
heart disease).
In addition, potential patients and their parents should be evaluated to see how emotionally prepared they are for the operation and the lifestyle changes they will need to make. Patients should also be referred to a team of experts in adolescent medicine and bariatric surgery who are qualified to meet their unique needs.
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