“My daughter is 12 years old and is obese. Do you suggest a bariatric surgery for her?”
My daughter is 12 years old and has an overactive thyroid, which is making her overweight. We tried to get her started on a healthier diet, but she didn't take to it. And, she's also pretty sedentary. Our options seem so limited, and now we're considering bariatric surgery to help her. Is this something that you would suggest to a 12-year-old girl?
4 Answers
No. Do not suggest bariatric surgery.
Weight loss is very challenging. We gain more weight when we take more calories than we can burn. We are also becoming less active. Some people also gain weight because they have a better gene (thrift gene). Some gain due to hormonal imbalance. Some have genetic and development problems which make them gain more weight.
The important steps in weight management are diet, exercise and behavioral modifications. Metabolic, genetic and hormonal causes need to be ruled out. If the above treatment fails, medical therapy should be tried. Those would include metformin, topamax, contrave, phentermine, saxenda, belvic, qysmia, HCG etc on selective bases.
Bariatric surgery is rarely recommend on children. First a child may not be able to concent to the procedure. Second there are significant adverse events. Third surgeons may not feel comfortable to perform the procedure on a growing child.
But if there are gross comerbidities and that it is deemed necessary to have the procedure it maybe considered.
The answer to your question is bariatrics is not likely in children unless the comerbidities (such as severe forms of prader Willi syndrome) are bad and you find a center to do it.
Good luck
The important steps in weight management are diet, exercise and behavioral modifications. Metabolic, genetic and hormonal causes need to be ruled out. If the above treatment fails, medical therapy should be tried. Those would include metformin, topamax, contrave, phentermine, saxenda, belvic, qysmia, HCG etc on selective bases.
Bariatric surgery is rarely recommend on children. First a child may not be able to concent to the procedure. Second there are significant adverse events. Third surgeons may not feel comfortable to perform the procedure on a growing child.
But if there are gross comerbidities and that it is deemed necessary to have the procedure it maybe considered.
The answer to your question is bariatrics is not likely in children unless the comerbidities (such as severe forms of prader Willi syndrome) are bad and you find a center to do it.
Good luck
It often hinges on how many obesity-related diseases and complications she already has. Weight loss surgery is still done very infrequently in obese teens.
No, you do not want to teach her that surgery is the easy shortcut solution for this problem. She must learn about healthy eating habits and physical activity. Even if you go ahead with the surgery, which implies serious complications, if she does not change her eating habits and physical activity, she will be obese again in less than 1 year.
