Monday, August 2, 2010

Weight Loss Surgery in Adolescents

I saw a review of an article published in the Journal of Pediatrics about how weight-loss surgery works to reduce weight in adolescents.

According to the review, the success rate of lifestyle changes and medications in achieving long-standing weight reduction is modest at best. Weight-loss surgery is gaining acceptance as an effective treatment in obese adolescents.

Weight-loss surgery significantly improved obesity-related illnesses like type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. There was no mention of sleep apnea in the review, but that can also improve significantly with weight loss after surgery.

I frequently evaluate adult patients in order to treat any significant obstructive sleep apnea that might make weight-loss surgery more risky. This is exciting news that perhaps adolescents will also have another treatment option in the battle against obesity.

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