Over the past 20 years, the number of bariatric surgery has been multiplied by more than 20, going from 2,800 operations in 1997 to 59,300 in 2016. Among the operated patients, a growing number of adolescents even if the number is still low. In total, 1500 underage patients have been operated on in France in 20 years, almost all being 13 years or older. These young patients will no doubt be happy to learn that the surgery will have better effects on their health than that of adults.
9 out of 10 adolescents no longer have diabetes
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that teenagers who undergo surgery not only lose weight but they also solve their health problems such as high blood pressure Where diabetes. This is not the case with the majority of adults.
For this study, researchers at the University of Colorado compared the results of surgery to gastric bypass in 161 adolescents and 396 adults who were obese since adolescence. Five years after surgery, the two groups had lost 26% to 29% of their weight, respectively. But 86% of adolescents no longer had diabetes (compared to 53% of adults with this disease before the operation) and blood pressure was stabilized in 68% of adolescents (and only 41% of adults).
However, should we have obesity surgery before adulthood? The researchers are not answering the question because some side effects requiring a second operation were more common in adolescents than in adults.
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