Obesity Surgery in Pediatrics

Obesity in the Adolescent Female

“…1 Thus, childhood obesity predisposes to endothelial dysfunction, carotid intimal medial thickening, and the development of arterial fatty streaks and fibrous plaques. 1 80% of overweight adolescents 80% have one risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, 14 while 20% have two factors. Risk factors include:…”

“…9 Complications (up to 40%) include erosion of the band to the stomach, slippage of the band, gastric mucosal intussusception, pouch dilation, esophagitis, and/or malfunction of the subcutaneous port. 14,35 Due to the finite life span of the device, there is a possibility that adolescent patients may need to undergo replacement in their lifetime. 32 4.…”

“…Though it is recommended, it is unclear whether supplementation of calcium at 1200e1500 mg/day is enough for adequate bone growth of an adolescent. 14 Practitioners should follow prothrombin time to evaluate for vitamin K deficiency. They should make patients aware that they need to avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease risk of intestinal ulceration or bleeding.…”

Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents

“…The comorbidities of obesity are also present in many young adolescents, and although they often remain silent during this age, they can become life threatening in time. However, a recent controversy has emerged concerning the appropriateness of bariatric surgical procedures for young adolescents 4 . Bariatric surgery is not cosmetic surgery, and the increase in this major gastrointestinal surgical procedure among adolescents has raised some important social and health issues 3 .…”

“…Treatment of obesity among adolescents poses a challenge to health care professionals and is often unsuccessful. Though behavior modification, diet, and exercise are the keys, only 1 in 5 obese children succeed in achieving the desired weight loss 4 . The consideration of comorbidities causes a dilemma for physicians who must decide on the most appropriate treatment strategy for morbid obesity among adolescents 6 .…”