Teen obesity surgery has health benefits for at least 3 years -- study

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In the last 30 years, the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled among adolescents. Medical Daily reports that the percentage of obese teens aged 12 to 19 rose from 5% to 18% since 1980. CDC also reports that in 2013, the states in America where 15% to 19% of high school students were obese include Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

A new study that is the largest, longest analysis of the effects of teen bariatric surgery reveals that this type of surgery may have a significant and lasting effect on the adolescent's health, which can last at least three years.

"Obesity is a serious health threat to millions of children and adolescents around the world, especially those who are considered severely obese," Dr. Mary Brandt, Dr. Mary Brandt, director of the Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program at Texas Children's and professor of surgery and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine told PR Newswire.

Detroit News reports that researchers analyzed 228 teens with an average of 330 pounds or more. Following the bariatric surgery, teens lost around 90 pounds and for at least three years, did not experience any obesity-related health conditions.

Results showed that 75% the participants had abnormally high levels of blood fat and lacking good cholesterol. Following the surgery, two-thirds of the partcipants did not have high levels of blood fat and triglycerides. Moreover, 40% of the participants had high blod pressure before the surgery, but afterwards, 75% of participants experienced a normal blood pressure. 90% of those who had type 2 diabetes did not have the condition following the surgery.

Detroit News reports that researchers believe the surgery helps teens fight obesity-related complications and enable them to live longer, healthier lives. According to the study authors, "We documented the durability of clinically meaningful weight loss and improvements in key health conditions and weight-related quality of life among adolescents who underwent gastric bypass surgery or sleeve gastrectomy."

"These benefits must be viewed in the context of the risks of micronutrient deficiencies and the possibility that future abdominal procedures will be needed in some patients," the study authors wrote.

New York Daily News reports that according to lead author Dr. Thomas Inge, the director of the obesity surgery program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, the resolution of diabetes and other obesity-related health problems was gratifying. However, Inge believes that bariatric surgery should be the last resort treatment. "We need to be thinking proactively and doing something about this far earlier," he said.

Brandt echoed Inge's sentiments, saying, "Intervening early could potentially have more substantial and longer-lasting implications than doing so later in life."