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Should Obese Children Be Able to Get Surgery

An article in the New York Times has been raising some debate over children and weight loss surgery, namely gastric bypass surgery.  It  does goes into a considerable amount of detail over one girl’s experience, her name is Brittany Caesar and the article points out- she was the first adolescent to receive the procedure. 

Something that, since Brittany Caesar’s own gastric bypass, has become more popular.

The medical facility that she had received it from has seen two adolescent patients a month.

A quote from the article that has really stood out:

“I honestly believe that in 5 to 10 years you’ll see as many children getting weight-loss procedures as adults,” said Dr. Evan Nadler, co-director of the Obesity Institute at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington.

Now, really benefiting from gastric bypass surgery is made to seem as if it is the normal outcome, and that the person who had gotten it will be happier, and healthier no matter what. When it typically comes to stories about it, the hard work and dedication that is also required tends to get glossed over a bit.

Many people, even after having the procedure, quickly fall back into their old habits and the success rates is only recently growing more successful. 

The success rate primarily depends on the person’s ability to resist their bad habits.

Doctors themselves aren’t sure if children having the surgery is something that should be considered, as it has he potential to alter the growing body:

But many doctors say research has yet to establish whether immediate improvements from surgery justify altering a child’s digestive system, probably for life.

(Source: NYTimes)

While the article itself seems to push it as the newest frontier- is it something that should even be so close to the front of the debate- especially when it comes to children?

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