Abstract
Objective: The objective was to review retrospectively all patients undergoing bariatric surgery at a large university medical center. Methods: Ten adolescents 17 years or younger underwent gastric bypass surgery; 7 of 10 adolescents had severe obesity‐related morbidities. Follow‐up>1 year was present in 9 of 10 adolescents. Results: The average weight before surgery was 148 ± 37 kg. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in all adolescents; 9 of 10 adolescents had weight loss in excess of 30 kg (mean weight loss was 53.6 ± 25.6 kg). Obesity related morbidities resolved in all adolescents. Five adolescents had mild iron deficiency anemia, and 3 adolescents had transient folate deficiency. Late complications requiring operative treatment occurred in 4 of the adolescents. Conclusion: Gastric bypass surgery was an effective method for weight reduction in morbidly obese adolescents. The procedure was well tolerated, with few unanticipated side effects. Gastric bypass remains a last resort option for severely obese adolescents for whom other dietary and behavioral approaches to weight loss have been unsuccessful.
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