Weight-Loss Surgery For Children
Mirror.co.uk, 28th July 1009
William McBride was 14 stone at the age of 10. He could barely walk, not to mention other activities other 10-year-olds do.
William was the world’s youngest patient who underwent the weight-loss surgery. He lost five stone in a year and, as he says, the operation changed his life.
Today William is 12 and weights just over eight stone. “I just feel so good and I don’t have to spend my days in a wheelchair”, he says. “I can still eat what I want, but I’m no longer hungry all the time. My life has changed so much. I can walk wherever I want to go and just feel so much better.”
Obesity is a rising problem all over the world. In England, it doubled in the last fifteen years. Reports predict that 90% of today’s children could be overweight by 2050.
Obesity is expected to cost the nation £50 billion, which is half of the annual NHS budget.
William’s story shows that the problem might be resolved relatively easily. But not all weight-loss surgeons agree with operations at such young age. The boy was refused the weight-loss procedure by the doctors in his country and had to travel 3,000 miles to Spain where the operation took place.
William’s mum, Dina, says she was aware of the risks. But, as she also says, it saved his life because if he didn’t have the operation, chances were he wouldn’t live much longer.
Doctors in America thought the operation was too dangerous for such a young patient. That’s why Dina took her son to Spain. William had lap sleeve gastrectomy in March 2007. The left part of his stomach was removed. Now, it’s only 15% of the normal stomach size, meaning he only needs to eat a bit in order to feel full.
In the UK, until recently, such procedures were not recommended to patients below 18. The rules changed in 2006 but they say weight-loss surgery should be the last resort for the obese children if their health is threatened by their weight.
Dina strongly believes the surgery was the only resort for William. He was not only over-eating but had also a genetic condition which made his weight putting on. What’s more, he was on steroids for asthma which was getting it even worse.
Dina and her husband John had taken William to many doctors when they realised he weighted nine stone at the age of seven. He also had Blount’s disease, a growth disorder. Together with his obesity, it made him use a wheelchair.
As he was barely moving, he piled up 193lbs which is morbidly dangerous for such a young person.
Dina and John were desperate to do something to save his life, even though they knew there were risks. They say now that the £10,000 they spent was the best money spent ever.
