Adolescent bariatric surgery--thoughts and perspectives from the UK

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Surgical Procedures
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Adolescent obesity is a growing public health concern.
• Surgical interventions for severe adolescent obesity are increasing.
• Healthcare professional perspectives on adolescent bariatric surgery are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore UK healthcare professionals' opinions on bariatric surgery for adolescents.
• To identify perceived prerequisites and age criteria for adolescent bariatric surgery.
• To understand the general acceptability of bariatric surgery as a treatment for adolescent obesity.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous online survey distributed to members of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society and London-based primary care practitioners.
• Survey comprised 21 questions assessing views on adolescent bariatric surgery.
• Data collected from 94 out of 324 distributed questionnaires.

Main Results:

• 66% of respondents believe surgery is appropriate for adolescents with a BMI >40 or BMI >35 with comorbidities.
• Parental psychological counseling was the most frequently cited prerequisite.
• Most participants favored a minimum age of 16 years, though 17% of surgeons indicated no minimum age.
• Over 80% of surveyed professionals consider adolescent bariatric surgery acceptable.

Conclusions:

• A majority of UK healthcare professionals view bariatric surgery as an acceptable therapeutic option for adolescents with severe obesity.
• Findings can inform the development of consensus opinions, selection criteria, and care pathways for adolescent bariatric surgery.
• Further research may refine guidelines for this patient population.