Weight Loss Surgery for Teens


Although the numbers are still relatively small, it is estimated that as many as 150 U.S. adolescents have had bariatric or gastric bypass surgery, commonly known as “stomach stapling.”

Until very recently, doctors refused to perform weight loss surgery on young men and women under the age of 16, in large part because continued growth would result in complications, and also because patients must follow very specific pre- and post-surgery dietary regimens – something many young people have a hard time doing. But recent advances in the procedure, such as gastric banding, coupled with an increasing number of acute cases in teens, such as obstructive sleep apnea, which is associated with high mortality, have led doctors to recommend the procedure for their young patients.

However, for extremely overweight or obese teens, weight loss surgery is an increasingly viable option. If appropriate behaviors are observed pre- and post-surgery, weight loss can be dramatic. A study by Rand and Macgregor reported a 6-year follow-up of 34 adolescents who underwent weight loss surgery between the ages of 11 and 19. Average body mass index before the procedure was 47 kg/m2. At follow-up the mean BMI was 32 kg/m2.

More and more health insurers are covering the cost of the procedure, which averages around $30,000. However, health insurers may also require that prospective patients first attempt an intensive residential weight loss program in order to qualify for coverage.

In general, however, the medical profession continues to view bariatric surgery as a procedure of last resort for obese young people – something to try when everything else has failed and the obesity has reached life-threatening proportions. It is unlikely that bariatric surgery will become a generally accepted way of controlling weight for adolescents. So if you’re thinking about bariatric surgery, you might want to first think look into a residential weight loss program such as a weight loss camp.

Weight Loss Surgery is Serious
Many people look at gastric bypass surgery as a way to finally beat the battle against obesity. However, there can be serious health implications, especially for growing teens.

Before you let your teen go under the knife, consider a residential weight loss program like Academy of the Sierras. Teens continue their schooling while they learn real-life skills for losing weight and keeping it off. Campuses are located in California and North Carolina.