Close to five percent of U.S. children are severely obese. New research suggests that adolescent patients who have not succeeded with traditional weight-loss methods and have major co-morbid conditions may be good candidates for bariatric surgery.
The number of obese adolescents requesting bariatric surgery at the Houston UT MIST Center for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery increases every year. This patient population often exhibits co-morbid conditions—type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, high cholesterol, etc.—that we once observed primarily in adult patients. In response to this alarming trend, UT MIST offers adolescent bariatric surgery for severely obese adolescent patients who meet specific selection criteria. Our ultimate goal for these patients is early, safe intervention to reverse disease states and improve their overall health, wellness, and quality of life.
Effects of Childhood Obesity
The effects of excess weight on severely obese adolescents extend far beyond appearance and psychological well-being. For many, extra weight places an added strain on the body, leading to serious diseases that many overweight adults acquire later in life. Three major co-morbid, obesity-related conditions include the following:
According to a study published in the February 2013 Canadian Journal of Surgery, “when the individual effects of bariatric surgery on obesity-related comorbidities are integrated, it results in a profound decrease in risk for coronary heart disease and overall mortality. In addition, given the low risk of surgery itself, bariatric surgery has become is a powerful treatment option to help control the obesity epidemic.”
Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Selection Criteria
At UT MIST, adolescent patients who satisfy the following strict selection criteria are considered eligible for weight-loss surgery:
Bariatric Surgery Options for Adolescents
Because adolescent bariatric surgery is relatively new, there is insufficient scientific evidence regarding precisely which weight-loss procedure is optimal for this patient population. At UT MIST, safety and efficacy are our guiding criteria, so most of our board-certified surgeons who perform adolescent bariatric surgery favor either Laparoscopic LAP-BAND® Surgery (also known as laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery or gastric banding surgery), gastric sleeve surgery(also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy or gastric sleeve resection surgery), or an endoscopic bariatric therapy such as the recently approved ORBERA™ Intragastric Balloon System. All of the these bariatric-surgery alternatives offer distinct advantages for adolescents:
Risks from adolescent bariatric surgery are essentially the same as those that adults face, and the greater the BMI and number of co-morbidities, the greater the likelihood of complications following bariatric surgery. In every case, the surgeon, patient, and parents or guardians must determine whether potential risks are worth the benefits. Recent literature suggests that early surgical weight-loss intervention may reduce the operative risk because younger patients recover from major surgery more easily than older adults. In addition, early surgical intervention may halt the progression of other obesity-related disease states that could degrade a child’s quality and length of life.
For more information about adolescent bariatric surgery at the Houston UT MIST Center for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, visit our website.
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Erik B. Wilson MD, Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at Houston UT MIST, explains various treatment options for patients who suffer from chronic acid reflux. These options depend on each patient’s severity and duration of GERD symptoms. Although first-line treatment begins with lifestyle modification and acid-suppressing medications, for select patients, acid-reflux surgery remains an important and often underutilized tool in providing safe, long-term relief from GERD symptoms.http://www.utmist.com/Lap-Band Surgery: Houston Bariatric Surgeon Advocates Access to Help Solve Global Obesity Epidemic
Houston UT MIST bariatric surgeon Erik B. Wilson MD discusses the relative advantages of LAP-BAND® surgery and encourages governments worldwide to make this low-risk, minimally invasive weight-loss procedure available and affordable to obese individuals. Doing so could help solve our global obesity epidemic. Within a short time, the money saved by not treating obesity-related diseases could more than offset the initial cost of this bariatric procedure.The Three Most Important New Developments in Weight-Loss Surgery & Medical Weight Loss in Houston
Houston UT MIST bariatric surgeon Erik B. Wilson MD discusses the recently approved ORBERA™ Intragastric Balloon, a minimally invasive endoscopic bariatric therapy (EBT), plus the latest FDA-approved anti-obesity medications, Saxenda® and CONTRAVE®, which are used to address a diverse range of patient needs.