I was pleased to be interviewed on television about the benefits of weight loss surgery for younger patients for whom this type of weight loss solution is deemed medically appropriate.
Bariatric surgery has become common place among obese adults and now it’s being recognized as a tool to help morbidly obese teens and young adults as well. The number of American teens having weight loss surgery tripled since the late 1990s and it continues to increase.
A new scientific study looked at nearly 250 severely obese teens (average age of 17) who had weight loss surgery. Half of the patients had four or more chronic obesity related conditions, such as high cholesterol, sleep apnea, back pain, joint pain, high blood pressure and fatty liver disease.
The teens underwent different types of weight loss surgery, including laparoscopic gastric bypass (66%), gastric sleeve (28%) and lapband (6%).
None of the teens died as a result of the operation and only 8 percent experienced any complications. The minimal complication rate is particularly significant given that the teens were severely obese and had serious obesity related medical issues.
In this television segment, Amanda, a 19-year-old suffering with morbid obesity who was not successful with other weight control efforts, was interviewed along with her supportive mother.
If you or a younger family member is interested in learning more about a bariatric weight control solution, please feel free to contact my office or attend my upcoming New Patient Seminar where you can learn more and also ask questions you may have about the process.
Video Transcription
You’re watching Time Warner Cable News New York 1, All Morning
This is Health & Medicine
Weight loss surgery isn’t just for adults anymore
It’s now being recognized as a tool to help morbidly obese teens.
As long as Amanda could remember, she struggled with her weight
Puberty is when I actually when I started getting really heavy and to the point I’m not healthy anymore.
Her max weight was 275 pounds. She tried all kinds of diets, visits to the nutrionists, exercise.
As a mother, it breaks your heart because you’re trying to do the right thing for your child. Nothing seems to help. And Amanda will say it never affected her. But it does.
After watching her father recover from gastric bypass surgery, the 19 year old decided she needed to take extreme measures as well.
I’m young. My body is ready to go.
At first, her mother and other family members had reservations about safety and were worried she was too young.
I didn’t have enough education on it.
There has been concern over whether bariatric surgery is safe for adolescence. Recent studies show there are few short term complications for obese teens. Dehydration being the most common issue.
Amanda’s doctor, bariatric surgeon Seun Sowemimo explained to Amanda’s family that the minimally invasive gastric sleeve procedure would be the best approach for Amanda.
We’re not changing the anatomy and it doesn’t impede the growth process. We make the stomach into a narrow tube by dividing the stomach and taking out the excess.
Still more study of the long term effects to teen needs to be done. But Sowemimo says for but for youth like Amanda with a body mass index well above 40, the pros outweigh the cons.
When we recognize that obesity in itself is a disease and associated with other diseases that would develop as a result of it, then you see that this is something that you need to apply the best therapy that you have.
In just a couple weeks since her surgery and Amanda has already lost 20 pounds and she is looking forward to losing more and living life like everyone else.
One of my major goals is to fit into average size clothing, I want to be able to travel. I want to feel comfortable in an airline seat.
About Dr. Seun Sowemimo, MD, FACS
“Dr. Seun” is a top NJ bariatric surgeon and the medical director at Prime Surgicare, with offices in Freehold serving Monmouth and Ocean counties. He is board-certified, Columbia and Yale University fellowship-trained advanced laparoscopic, bariatric and general surgeon. He has advanced expertise performing the safest, most advanced laparoscopic and general surgical operations. To learn more, visit his YouTube channel or call Prime Surgicare at (732)-982-2002