Bariatric Surgery For Teens
CBS 4, 15th June 2010
Not only adults have got serious problems with their weight. The obesity epidemic affects also children and teenagers.
Weight-loss surgery seems extreme but some doctors think it’s a viable solution for some patients. The first step in the weight-loss battle is obviously healthy diet and exercising but they are not always efficient.
Bertehenine Gonzalez is one of those patients who tried everything to lose weight. As it didn’t work, she had a surgery at the age of 16 and lost 92 pounds since. As an obese girl, Bertehenine had breathing problems, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. She couldn’t do things other teenagers do such as running or riding a bike.
Earvin Verona’s story is similar to Bertehenine’s. He was obese as well and it affected his whole life. His life-style before the surgery was very passive and full of unhealthy food. Earvin also underwent a weight-loss surgery at the age of 16 and lost 120 pounds since. He now plays football and goes to the gym, which was impossible a few months ago.
Apart from not being able to do usual things, the teenagers are also very often ridiculed and bullied because of their weight.
“Fat kids, obese kids get picked on and ostracized. It becomes a negative cycle. They eat more because that’s the only satisfaction they get. They do less. They go out less,” ’said bariatric surgeon Dr. Jorge Sosa.
Dr. Sosa performed the surgery on patients as young as 15 years old. He says it always should be the last resort but he also thinks this is giving young people another chance.
“You’re essentially taking a child they’re dropping out of school through shame, inability to attend school because of their weight,” says Dr. Sosa “And they’re going to do what sit at home all day long, no schooling, they’re becoming ill, diabetic, pre-diabetic etc. Those are the children that it’s worth giving them the risk of the surgery.”
