Bariatric surgery among young adults to jump 19% between 2020 and 2021
Post Date – 11:30 PM, Wednesday – 5/31/23
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New York: Bariatric surgery is increasingly being used as part of obesity treatment for adolescents in the United States, a study finds.
The number of metabolic and bariatric surgeries performed by teens ages 10 to 19 has been on the rise since 2016, according to findings published in JAMA Pediatrics.
From 2020 to 2021, the number of bariatric surgery procedures among young adults jumped 19%.
Sarah Messiah, professor and pediatric obesity researcher at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, said: “These data show us that adolescents and their families are genuinely interested in surgery as a treatment option if they have access to it and are a good candidate. ” by CNN Health.
“Many studies have shown that risk factors for cardiometabolic disease track strongly from childhood to adulthood,” she said.
Childhood obesity is a “serious problem” in the United States, affecting about one in five children and teens — nearly 15 million between the ages of 2 and 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Gastric bypass surgery and other weight loss procedures (collectively called bariatric surgery) involve changes to the digestive system to help you lose weight.
Bariatric surgery is done when diet and exercise don’t work or when you have serious health problems due to your weight.
Barriers to access, including low pediatrician referral rates and low insurance coverage, mean these bariatric procedures remain underutilized, the study suggests.
But earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines for treating obesity — the first update in 15 years.
New guidelines urge the timely use of behavioral therapy and lifestyle changes, and for the first time recommend surgery and medication for some young people. In particular, severely obese adolescents should be evaluated for surgery, the report said.
