As you may already know, obesity is a disease. Especially in the developed world, obesity is increasingly becoming one of the most common lifestyle diseases. Not only does it affect the elderly and middle-aged adults, but obesity affects children and teenagers too. Among the many causes of obesity include diet, leading a sedentary lifestyle, certain medications, some health conditions, and genetic factors. When you have obesity, you are at risk of acquiring certain health conditions and complications, including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, stroke, and cancer, among others.
Now, the good thing about obesity is that it can be treated. There are different treatment options for obesity, including dietary changes, weight loss medication, physical activity, hormone therapy, and surgery, just to name a few. The field of medicine that deals with the treatment of obesity is known as Bariatrics, which is the main focus of this article.
With a larger bias on surgical bariatric treatments, here are a few bariatric options for childhood and adolescent obesity.
1. Gastric Bypass, Banding, and Stapling
The digestive system is made up of several organs, which work together to digest and absorb food while eliminating waste. Now, a lot of digestion takes place in the stomach and the small intestines. The small intestines are also where essential nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream for distribution to various parts of the body.
In a gastric bypass, a small pouch is formed at the top of the stomach to reduce the amount of food that is allowed in. This makes you fill up fast with a very little amount of food, thus reducing the number of calories you take in. Dr. Fernando Garcia and the expert team of surgeons from Tijuana Bariatric Center say that depending on various factors, one can either take the mini gastric bypass or the traditional gastric bypass. An experienced and reputable bariatric surgeon will help you choose the most suitable procedure for your safety and weight loss goals.
Gastric bypass may also be done through stomach stapling, where the pouch is created using a band and several staples. Essentially, the procedure seeks to reduce the size of the stomach so that it accommodates less food.
2. Intestinal Bypass
When we eat, digestion takes place, and absorption happens in the small intestines. In a layman’s language, this entails the reduction of the small intestines, so that the absorption of food nutrients into the body is reduced. An anastomosis or new pathway is created between the duodenum and ileum, creating what is termed as a bypass. When the bypass is formed, the length of the intestines is reduced by at least three quarters, thus reducing digestion and absorption. The undigested food goes into the large intestines, where it is excreted. When shorter, no matter how much food you take, the intestines will accommodate very little, ultimately leading to weight loss. Nonetheless, some patients may experience side effects after this procedure, some of which can be severe in the early stages. The side effects may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and mineral deficiencies, among others.
3. Jaw Wiring
This is a rare bariatric option used to counter obesity, especially for kids and teens that just can’t fight the urge to eat. Here, the jaws are wired surgically with implanted wires and screws. The jaws are closed and cannot move freely to avoid improper feeding habits for people with obesity and those with an abnormal appetite. Here, food is pured and consumed little by little using a straw. This limits the amount of food getting into the body and can thus lead to a notable weight change. The wires can be cut in case of an emergency.
4. Stomach Balloon
Medics no longer recommend this bariatric method because it poses higher health risks. Here, a balloon is placed inside the stomach and inflated to offer a feeling of fullness. It, however, often causes bowel blockage and ulcers, thus the disqualification.
As mentioned earlier, other treatment options for obesity among children and adolescents apart from surgery include diet restriction, physical activity, and obesity medication. All the same, the main goal is to reduce caloric intake, promote fat loss, and achieve healthy body weight. If not administered by an expert surgeon, some of the mentioned surgical procedures are prone to complications such as infection, thrombosis, and stomach leakage. If you are planning a bariatric procedure for your child, it is highly important to choose a reputed health facility with experienced bariatric surgeons.
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Thanks for the information