Federally Funded Study on Benefits, Risks of Teen Weight-Loss Surgery
Extreme obesity among the young is becoming a serious problem especially in the U.S.
Surgery has been effective in treating extreme obesity in adults. Researchers want to find out whether adults and adolescents who have the surgery have significantly different health problems and whether there is any benefit to having the operation earlier in life.
An estimated 2,744 U.S. youngsters underwent weight loss surgery from 1996 through 2003. 200 teenagers will be enrolled in a five-year, federally funded study on the benefits and risks of bariatric surgery on adolescents.
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that about 2 million U.S. adolescents may be severely obese and have complications of obesity previously seen only in adults.
The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disorders provided more than $5 million last year for the study. Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Children's Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham and the University of Pittsburgh also are collecting data.
Kerri Green, director of education for the Weller Health Education Center in Easton, Pa., believes studies are needed to find out if young people can understand the physical, psychological and emotional consequences of bariatric surgery, which she said should be done only for compelling medical reasons.
Is Earlier Better?
Surgery has been effective in treating extreme obesity in adults. Researchers want to find out whether adults and adolescents who have the surgery have significantly different health problems and whether there is any benefit to having the operation earlier in life.
An estimated 2,744 U.S. youngsters underwent weight loss surgery from 1996 through 2003. 200 teenagers will be enrolled in a five-year, federally funded study on the benefits and risks of bariatric surgery on adolescents.
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that about 2 million U.S. adolescents may be severely obese and have complications of obesity previously seen only in adults.
The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disorders provided more than $5 million last year for the study. Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Children's Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham and the University of Pittsburgh also are collecting data.
Kerri Green, director of education for the Weller Health Education Center in Easton, Pa., believes studies are needed to find out if young people can understand the physical, psychological and emotional consequences of bariatric surgery, which she said should be done only for compelling medical reasons.
Is Earlier Better?
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