Obesity is a chronic, complex and multifactorial disease. In many cases, the process begins in childhood or adolescence, making it important to treat it appropriately at an early age.
For some adolescents that suffer from obesity and have not been able to lose weight through other methods, bariatric surgery performed at our center, located in Tijuana Mx, can result in a safe and sustainable solution.
Dr. Liza María Pompa González and her team are very experienced in the treatment of adolescents and can work with the minor’s physician to develop the appropriate treatment. Bariatric surgery is only recommended when the surgery itself poses less of a risk to a patient’s health than the medical conditions they are suffering from due to the excess weight. Obesity in adolescents can cause many health and emotional problems, we invite you to contact our clinic to find out more about the treatments we offer for teenagers.
Adolescent Candidates for Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery may be indicated for patients under the age of 18 who have a BMI of 35 or more and also present obesity related health issues such as type II diabetes, moderate to severe sleep apnea, cranial pressure or severe fatty liver disease. Surgery may also be recommended for patients with a BMI above 40 that present less severe medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or mild sleep apnea. Patients who opt for bariatric surgery must have been unsuccessful at previous attempt to lose weight through other methods.
The team at LIMARP International Center of Excellence for Obesity offers adolescent bariatric surgery in Tijuana, MX. While the surgery itself is the same for patients of any age, surgical procedures of any kind for your child can be stressful. Dr. Liza Maria Pompa González works closely and carefully with both patients and parents to help adolescents safely achieve a healthy weight.
Health problems related to obesity
If left untreated, health risks related to childhood obesity can last through adult life and increase in severity. The highest risk related to childhood obesity is type II diabetes. This type of diabetes usually appears much later in life, but childhood obesity can cause its early development; it is chronic disease that can worsen with time and increase a patient’s chances of developing hypertension, high cholesterol or fatty liver disease. Bariatric surgery can alleviate this disease and even achieve its remission.
Obstructive sleep apnea can affect up to one fourth of children with obesity. This condition can cause fatigue, mood swings and can affect concentration. Sleep apnea tends to improve or disappear after bariatric surgery. In terms of fatty liver disease, up to 40% of children with obesity have it and if left untreated can result in liver fibrosis.
The effects of this disease improve greatly after bariatric surgery. Obese teenagers also have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease in adulthood, bariatric surgery can help reduce it.
Emotional Health Problems Related to Obesity
Adolescents with obesity have a greater risk of depression. In addition to treatments intended to treat depression, bariatric surgery can aid in your child’s emotional wellbeing. Children and adolescents with obesity are also prone to develop eating disorders such as bulimia, and even though bariatric surgery is not a solution for eating disorders, in combination with a proper treatment plan it can improve your child’s emotional health and reduce their chances of developing an eating disorder in the future. Obesity and its related health problems can affect your child’s behavior and ability to learn; it can prevent them from participating in age appropriate activities and make them a target for bullying. Within the framework of an integrative program such as the one we offer at LIMARP, bariatric surgery can help improve these issues.
Benefits of Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents
If left untreated, childhood obesity can persist through adulthood, along with increasingly severe medical issues that can further threaten your child’s health. Bariatric surgery can reduce many of the physical and health problems your child could be currently facing and reduce the risk of greater problems in the future. Healthy weight loss can improve your child’s quality of life and strengthen their self-esteem.
Contact Us
If your child suffers from obesity and you are considering bariatric surgery, please contact us today to schedule an appointment.