The terms "overweight" and "obese" refer to serious medical conditions in which excess body fat accumulates to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health. Obesity is measured by body mass index (BMI), a calculation using height and weight. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but is an indicator of body fat for most adolescents.
Being overweight or obese can cause an increase in many health-related illnesses and contribute to a decrease in quality of life. Obesity puts adolescents at risk for:
At our Healthy Lifestyles Center, a team of dietitians, exercise specialists, psychologists, medical and surgical specialists, and nurses provide comprehensive lifestyle management for the treatment and prevention of obesity and weight-related medical conditions. Through specially-designed programs and services, team members work closely with adolescents and their families to promote healthy weight-management, eating, exercise and lifestyle habits with a focus on lifelong change.
Treatment options include:
Bariatric surgery may be considered as an additional treatment option for older adolescents with severe obesity and significant weight-related medical conditions. Bariatric surgery is a weight loss tool and adolescents must make lifelong changes to be successful.
In the surgery, also known as laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, 80% of the stomach is removed. The remaining stomach is the shape of a tube or banana. Initial volume of the stomach is approximately 2 oz.
CHoR is the only accredited adolescent bariatric surgery center in the region, and one of several in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Research shows that adolescent bariatric surgery, in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, is an effective treatment for severe obesity. Surgery benefits can also include improvements in:
Surgery benefits can also include the reversal of weight-related illnesses including type 2 diabetes and cardiac abnormalities such as hypertension and high triglycerides.
All surgery candidates must meet established criteria; participate in six months of medically supervised lifestyle intervention; and complete a comprehensive psychological evaluation. Candidates must have a BMI ≥40 or ≥35 with severe comorbidities. It is also crucial that candidates for surgery be physically mature and understand the risks and benefits of surgery.
Surgery is not appropriate in the event of:
Download our Recipe for Success chart to learn more about bariatric surgery.
Tamira couldn't be happier that she made the decision to add bariatric surgery as a tool to support behavior changes in her health journey. "I feel amazing...I get to do things I never thought would be possible."
Dr. Lanning talks about when and why surgery is a good option for weight loss.