Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

PA Wire/PA Images

Gastric bypass surgery helps obese teens keep weight off but can lead to more surgery

Some suffered vitamin deficiencies.

OBESE TEENS WHO undergo gastric bypass surgery can maintain their weight loss over long periods.

That is according to the first long-term follow-up studies of teenagers who had undergone the procedure 5-12 years earlier. However, the two studies, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, show some patients will likely need further surgery to deal with the complications of rapid weight loss or may develop vitamin deficiencies later in life.

The studies are the first to look at long-term effects of gastric bypass surgery in teenagers. Until now, it has been unclear how successful the surgery is in the long-term and whether it can lead to complications. Despite this thousands of teenagers are offered the surgical treatment each year.

Both studies show that the surgery reduced the teens’ weight and helped them maintain weight loss over more than five years. However, it was associated with vitamin D and B12 deficiencies and mild anaemia, meaning some needed further surgery.

In the first paper, researchers studied 58 American teenagers aged between 13 and 21 who were severely obese and had a gastric bypass.

Average BMI was reduced from 59 before surgery to 36 a year after surgery. Eight years later, average BMI was 42, equivalent to a loss of 50 kilos per person or a 30% weight reduction. Although the weight loss was significant, almost two-thirds of cases (63%, 36/57) remained very obese (BMI over 35) and only one person became a normal weight (BMI 18.5-25) at follow-up.

The second study included 81 obese teenagers (average BMI 45) and 81 adults (average BMI 43) in Sweden who had a gastric bypass and 80 teenagers who did not have surgery.

Five years after surgery, the teenagers and adults who had a gastric bypass had a reduced BMI (by 13 points for teenagers, a weight reduction of 28%; 12 points for adults), whereas teenagers who did not have surgery had an increased BMI (by three points from 42 to 45).

Of the teenagers who underwent the gastric bypass, a quarter (25%, 20/81) had further surgery to treat complications from the bypass or as a result of rapid weight loss, including bowel blockage (11 cases) and gallstones (nine cases).

The researchers say that the benefits of the surgeries outweigh the small and manageable risk of nutritional deficiencies.

“Weight loss is crucial for severely obese patients who face poor health and shorter lifespans,” said lead author Dr Thomas Inge, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, USA.

“These two manuscripts clearly document long-term benefits of adolescent bariatric treatment, but also highlight several nutritional risks.”

Read: ‘You don’t throw 30 million people off healthcare without having a plan’ – Battle lines drawn over Obamacare

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
18 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
    Favourite Mary Mc Carthy
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 7:38 AM

    Poor man and his family waiting at home for him.

    223
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karl Aisbitt
    Favourite Karl Aisbitt
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 8:23 AM

    What’s the difference between them holding him and the Americans holding Afghanistan soldiers in Guantanamo bay ? Both get badly treated but because the USA is seen to be more of a civilised country they get away with it..

    126
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cillian Fleming
    Favourite Cillian Fleming
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 9:34 AM

    I think one difference, unlike in Guantanamo Bay, is that he faces the daily possibility of having his head cut off.

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aaron
    Favourite Aaron
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 10:15 AM

    I’d rather my head cut off and it be done with instead of torture everyday at Gitmo

    30
    See 15 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Stagg
    Favourite Conor Stagg
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 10:16 AM

    Id rather have my head cut off! than spend half my life, or even a short part of it, in guantanamo!

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Stagg
    Favourite Conor Stagg
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 10:17 AM

    Sorry Aaron either we posted that at the same time or else I didn’t c ur post ha ha

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute margaret
    Favourite margaret
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 10:35 AM

    So, you would rather have your head sawn halal style over being in an American POW camp with your Koran. Don’t talk stupid! You no more believe that than ido.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Polar Bear
    Favourite The Polar Bear
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 10:42 AM

    Gitmo isn’t for POW’s. US doesn’t class them as POWs. They are enemy combatants/unlawful combatants according to US and Geneva Conventions do not apply.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute margaret
    Favourite margaret
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 10:56 AM

    And proper order. The rules of engagement don’t apply to jihadists so neither should the Geneva convention. You can bet your life the Geneva convention doesn’t apply to that poor American soldier. Can’t imagine the conditions those Taliban animals have imposed on him.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Benson Hallahan
    Favourite Benson Hallahan
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 11:20 AM

    How do you know that they are jihadists? They haven’t been given a trial.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aaron
    Favourite Aaron
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 11:28 AM

    and what about the conditions in Gitmo Margaret, is it fair they get tortured everyday in Gitmo but not fair on the American soldier?

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute margaret
    Favourite margaret
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 11:46 AM

    The don’t get “tortured” in Gitmo everyday. And it’s strange how many innocent “tourists” the Americans picked up in Afghanistan. All doing their gap year no doubt.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick
    Favourite Mick
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 11:49 AM

    Gitmo?

    What about Abu Ghraib? It was run by people with the same attitude as margaret.

    Makes me sick to hear people defending the treatment of prisoners who would be living normal lives if it wasn’t for an unjust invasion by the United Snakes.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rick
    Favourite Rick
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 11:50 AM

    Before you start referencing the Geneva Convention please check out this link.

    http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-atrocities-and-war-crimes-cover-ups-in-afghanistan/5358140

    It seems the Geneva Convention doesn’t apply to the U.S.

    No Gun Ri Massacre in Korea.
    Mai La in Vietnam.

    The U.S. do not recognise the ICC when it comes to the Geneva Convention, they prosecute their own forces as they see fit. You get more jail time in America for breaching their security than killing innocent civilians in a war zone.

    When the conflict is eventually over I pray that that soldier is returned safely to his family.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aaron
    Favourite Aaron
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 11:54 AM

    You still didn’t answer the question Margaret, cause you cant, you know what the Americans do is wrong but wont admit it, the worlds biggest bully going up against the small countries with oil, using any excuse possible to go in and invade and then killing innocent men, women and children.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute margaret
    Favourite margaret
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 12:17 PM

    @Aaron. There is no oil in Afghanistan. But plenty jihadists who would gladlysaw your head off if it furthered their aims. Your misplaced sympathy would do you no good. All humanity has been bred out if these butchers.
    Which question did I not answer?

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick
    Favourite Mick
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 12:21 PM

    Google Afganistan before the war.

    Nothing was “bred” out of them you ignorant fool – it was bombed out of them

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute margaret
    Favourite margaret
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 12:29 PM

    Before the war as you put it the Taliban harboured bombers and cutthroats. Bombers and cutthroats bring it on themselves, calling people ignorant fool is straw grasping at it’s most desperate. Your points shouldn’t need that kind of embellishment.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aaron
    Favourite Aaron
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 1:03 PM

    Jesus Margaret you haven’t a clue, you never answered if it was fair that the Americans tortured prisoners everyday in Gitmo? All you said was it doesn’t happen everyday! Sleep deprivation happens everyday to the prisoners, then tortured by water boarding and so on but its ok to you cause its the Americans doing it. They also extract 1.5 million barrels of oil per year in Afghanistan

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stabber mac nugget
    Favourite Stabber mac nugget
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 7:55 AM

    How many people are the yanks holding at the moment

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roland 303
    Favourite Roland 303
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 8:19 AM

    2 wrongs……….

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Some Feen
    Favourite Some Feen
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 8:29 AM

    Try 500 wrongs, which is around how many were held in Guantanamo the release without charge… Buncha goat farmers

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Byrne
    Favourite Liam Byrne
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 7:29 AM

    What do they hope to achieve by holding onto him. There’s no benefit to their cause by keeping him captive, except maybe to satisfy their own sadistic desires.

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Recalcitrant Banker
    Favourite Recalcitrant Banker
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 8:11 AM

    You’ve obviously haven’t heard of Guantanamo bay then. The USA are doing the same thing on a far more industrial scale.

    115
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Byrne
    Favourite Liam Byrne
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 8:17 AM

    I’m not excusing the US, I can assure you. This soldier has been held captive for nearly 5 years. What info could they possibly hope to garner from him.

    42
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Edward Malone
    Favourite Edward Malone
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 8:52 AM

    I suspect they no doubt want to exchange him and the reason the deal wasn’t ‘clinched’ is largely because of the US

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute margaret
    Favourite margaret
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 7:59 AM

    Hopefully this video is part of some movement that’s going in behind the scenes and he will be released soon.

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Byrne
    Favourite Liam Byrne
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 8:24 AM

    He has spent more time in captivity than he has spent in active service. Keeping him is serving no purpose.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Lydon
    Favourite Daniel Lydon
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 9:59 AM

    I can only hope AMERICA get this poor fella home safe and get revenge for this terrible act

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seamus O'Conner
    Favourite Seamus O'Conner
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 8:21 AM

    Afghanistan’s guatanamo Bay. Justice has been served.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eric Edert
    Favourite Eric Edert
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 8:48 AM

    You’re blaming one guy for all of that?

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran Casey
    Favourite Kieran Casey
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 1:00 PM

    Stay the fcuk at home mind your own business,look after your own family and this shit wont happen to you..

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Fitzsimons
    Favourite Andrew Fitzsimons
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 1:59 PM

    Absolutely right!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thrillhouse
    Favourite Thrillhouse
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 7:08 PM

    Ironically, that is exactly what most people in Afghanistan were doing. Staying home minding their own business until one day the worlds only superpower decided to bomb the f#ck out of them because a bunch of saudi arabians somehow knocked down 3 skyscrapers with 2 planes in New York.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eric Edert
    Favourite Eric Edert
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 8:40 AM

    Homeland comes to mind here……Hmmmmmm, could be interesting

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lad
    Favourite Lad
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 10:13 AM

    I think you’ve been watching to much tv lad…

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Polar Bear
    Favourite The Polar Bear
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 10:43 AM

    He dies in the end.

    5
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute margaret
    Favourite margaret
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 10:57 AM

    Yes he does. In typical barbaric Islamist fashion

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jurgen Remak
    Favourite Jurgen Remak
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 11:53 AM

    I hope this soldier gets released soon. 5 years with those guys must be absolute hell.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Elaine Cassin
    Favourite Elaine Cassin
    Report
    Jan 16th 2014, 9:53 AM

    Sounds like they just left him there!!!

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds