May 30, 2023 – More and more children are undergoing weight reduction surgery, in response to a report published in JAMA Pediatrics on Tuesday.
Metabolic and bariatric surgeries have been on the rise amongst adolescents ages 10 to 19 since 2016, the report says, with the number increasing by 19% from 2020 to 2021.
The procedures change parts of the digestive system and make the person feel more full and fewer hungry – which in turn contributes to weight reduction.
20 percent of American children are obese, that's, 15 million people between the ages of two and 19. In addition, an increasing number of individuals suffer from severe obesity, meaning their body mass index is 20 percent above the edge for obesity.
“Behavioral lifestyle interventions alone do not result in long-term, clinically meaningful weight loss in adolescents with severe obesity,” the study authors wrote. “Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a safe and effective treatment.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its obesity treatment guidelines this yr for the primary time in 15 years, CNN reported. “The new guidelines call for the immediate use of behavioral therapy and lifestyle changes and for the first time recommend surgery and medications for some young people,” CNN wrote.
According to the CDC, black and Hispanic children usually tend to be obese, with surgeries increasing 42% amongst black youth and 53% amongst Hispanic youth between 2020 and 2021.