Younger Teens Benefit From Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, an Under-utilized Treatment for Severe Obesity

A Pediatrics study of adolescents with severe obesity who underwent metabolic and bariatric surgery found younger teens were just as likely to benefit from the treatment as older adolescents. The study, “Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery in Older versus Younger Adolescent,” published in the March 2021 Pediatrics (published online Feb. 1), found that younger and older teens showed similar weight loss, resolution of hypertension and dyslipidemia, nutritional deficiencies, and improvement in quality of life after surgery. The researchers analyzed records from 242 adolescents who were divided into age groups 13-15 and 16-19 who underwent surgery to treat severe obesity at five children’s hospitals. In this study, investigators from the NIH funded Teen-LABS consortium collected baseline data on participants within 30 days of the procedure. Participants were then evaluated at six months, twelve months, and then annually, for up to five years after surgery. Their analysis found similar improvements in all areas, although diabetes remission was slightly higher in older youth. Obesity and duration of obesity are significant risk factors for early mortality, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular events, multiple cancers, end-stage renal disease, end-stage liver disease, and decreased quality of life. Metabolic and bariatric surgery is an effective early intervention that is underutilized, according to the researchers, who conclude that age alone should not dissuade providers and patients from pursuing surgery when medically indicated.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.