What are the long-term effects of bariatric surgery on adolescents?

November 20, 2024

Findings from a recent study validate bariatric surgery as a safe and effective long-term strategy for managing obesity in adolescents, demonstrating significantly better outcomes compared with adults.

To investigate the long-term effects of weight-loss surgery, researchers launched a multicenter NIH-supported study in 2007, enrolling 260 adolescents with severe obesity, defined as a BMI of ≥35. Participants underwent either gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, and health data were collected before surgery and at various intervals over a decade. Results revealed a 20% average reduction in BMI after 10 years, with many preexisting conditions, such as hypertension and T2DM, resolved in over half of the participants. Results underscore the importance of addressing obesity in adolescents and suggest that further research is needed to compare surgical outcomes with those of weight-loss medications.

Source:

NIH. (2024, November 19). Weight-loss surgery has lasting benefits for teens. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/weight-loss-surgery-has-lasting-benefits-teens