bariatric surgery

Is Bariatric Surgery Safe for Obese Teens?

In adolescents and young adults, weight loss due to bariatric surgery is sustained 3 years after surgery, according to results of a new analysis.

To conduct their review, the researchers used online databases to find studies on weight loss after gastric band (n = 1010 participants), gastric bypass (n = 779), and gastric sleeve (n = 139) surgery in adolescents (aged 19 years or younger) and young adults (aged 21 years or younger).

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Overall, 24 studies that included 1928 patients were analyzed.

Results of the analysis showed that after 6 months, the change in body mass index was -5.4 kg/m2 for patients who had undergone gastric band, -11.5 kg/m2 for those who had undergone gastric sleeve, and -18.8 kg/m2 for those who had undergone gastric bypass.

At 36 months post-surgery, weight loss was sustained in patients who had undergone gastric band (-10.3 kg/m2), gastric sleeve (-13.0 kg/m2), and gastric bypass (-15.0 kg/m2).

“Bariatric surgery in obese adolescent patients is effective in achieving short-term and sustained weight loss at 36 months,” the researchers concluded. “However, long-term data remains necessary to better understand its long-term efficacy.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Pedroso FE, Angriman F, Endo A, et al. Weight loss after bariatric surgery in obese adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2018;14(3):413-422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2017.10.003.