Obesity stands out as a serious health problem affecting children and young people worldwide. Weight problems that start especially during adolescence not only reduce the quality of life of young individuals, but also invite various health problems in adulthood. At this point, bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for adolescents. But can we really say that weight loss surgery is an effective and safe option in the long term?
A recent study led by Dr. Justin Ryder reveals the long-term results of bariatric surgery in adolescents and gives a clear answer to this question: Yes, bariatric surgery can be an effective and safe obesity treatment for young people.
Striking Results 10 Years Later
The Teen-LABS (Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Study) researchers examined 260 patients between the ages of 13 and 19 who underwent bariatric surgery exactly ten years after their surgery. The study results were quite striking: A 20% reduction in body mass index (BMI) was observed in individuals who underwent this operation during adolescence. What's more, 55% of the participants who underwent weight loss surgery at a young age and had type 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus) were in complete remission from diabetes even ten years after surgery. This is much higher than the rates of diabetes remission achieved with bariatric surgery in adulthood (about 12-18%).
Dr. Ryder, one of the study's coordinators, states that bariatric surgery performed in adolescence offers more lasting benefits in the long term than operations performed in adulthood: “It is very important to address obesity at an early age. Early intervention not only leads to weight loss, but also to more lasting improvements in health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.” This essentially means that the earlier the intervention, the better.
Why is Early Intervention So Important?
The long-term effects of obesity are associated with many health problems, especially heart disease, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), fatty liver disease and sleep apnea. These health problems not only reduce quality of life but also shorten life expectancy. Dealing with these problems and managing obesity during adolescence is of great importance in order to maintain a healthy life in later years.
Bariatric surgery offers a powerful treatment option for young people in this sense. Dr. Thomas Inge, the lead researcher of the Teen-LABS study, also emphasizes the importance of early intervention, saying: “When we perform these operations in adolescents, the remission of health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure is more permanent. Therefore, it is very critical to treat obesity at a young age.”
Bariatric Surgery: An Underutilized Treatment Method
Unfortunately, bariatric surgery is not a common enough practice among young people worldwide and in our country. According to Dr. Ryder, only one in 2500 adolescents with severe obesity undergoes this operation. In the US, about five million teens need effective weight management methods such as bariatric surgery. Therefore, it is crucial that bariatric surgery is more widely adopted as a treatment modality among young people.
Conclusion: Time to Reassess Bariatric Surgery in Adolescence
The Teen-LABS study clearly demonstrates that bariatric surgery performed at a young age offers a long-term and permanent solution. These results underline the benefits of starting treatment at an early age, rather than focusing only on adult treatments in the fight against obesity. Taking obesity seriously in young people stands out as one of the most important steps to build a healthy future for young people.
Early weight loss surgeries not only open the doors to a healthy life for young people, but also improve their quality of life and longevity. These research results may lead to a fundamental change in obesity treatment strategies and pave the way for more bariatric surgery options for adolescents.
