New research has found that severely obese teenagers who undergo weight loss surgery may experience very few short-term complications. This is according to a study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
Obesity is a growing problem worldwide, particularly for adolescents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of obese adolescents in the US aged between 12 and 19 has increased from 5% in 1980 to 18% in 2010.
Researchers from the US, led by investigators from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, say as the rate of adolescent obesity is increasing, so is the popularity of weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) as a treatment option.
Researchers say that weight loss surgery for teenagers poses very few short-term complications.
Previous data has indicated that bariatric surgery can be safely offered to obese teenagers, the researchers say. However, they note there have been few comprehensive or prospective studies analyzing the safety and outcomes of weight loss surgery in adolescents.
Source: http://bit.ly/Ht6SRk