A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals significant long-term benefits of bariatric surgery for adolescents. Conducted by researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the study tracked participants ten years after undergoing weight-loss surgery during their teenage years. Findings show that over half of the participants not only maintained weight loss but also experienced resolution of obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Lead author Justin Ryder, Ph.D., who is also the Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Surgery at Lurie Children’s and an Associate Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, emphasized the study’s importance. “Our study presents impressive outcomes of the longest follow-up of weight loss surgery during adolescence, which validates bariatric surgery as a safe and effective long-term obesity management strategy,” he stated.
Despite the benefits, bariatric surgery remains under-utilized among adolescents, with only one in every 2,500 teens with severe obesity undergoing the procedure. Current statistics suggest that nearly five million adolescents in the U.S. are eligible for effective weight-loss interventions, including bariatric surgery.
Among the participants was Hillary Fisher, who underwent surgery at age 16. At the time, she weighed 260 pounds and struggled with weight-related health issues and bullying. Reflecting on her experience, Fisher said, “I was crushed by the daily issues I faced due to my weight, health problems and bullying in high school. After many unsuccessful attempts to lose weight, we decided bariatric surgery was the answer. It changed my life … the improved health and self-esteem that came with the 100-pound weight loss were important to me, and I would certainly do it again.”
The study’s findings are particularly promising for those with type 2 diabetes. Among participants who had diabetes prior to surgery, 55% remained in remission a decade later. This outcome is notably better than what has been reported in adults, where a recent multi-center randomized controlled trial found diabetes remission rates of only 12–18% at seven to twelve years post-surgery.
Researchers analyzed the outcomes of 260 patients aged 13 to 19 who underwent bariatric surgery. The results showed a significant decline in body mass index (BMI), with a 20% reduction observed.
Dr. Thomas Inge, Principal Investigator of the Teen-LABS study and Surgeon-in-Chief at Lurie Children’s, noted the unique advantages of treating obesity in adolescents. “The fascinating part is that when we use these operations in teenagers, the remission of health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure are more durable than when operations are done later in adulthood,” he explained.
This study highlights the critical need for increased awareness and accessibility of bariatric surgery for young people facing severe obesity, emphasizing its effectiveness as a long-term solution for weight management and associated health conditions.
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