Adolescent Bariatric Surgery

Obesity can affect your health as a teenager and into adulthood in a variety of ways. High blood pressure and high cholesterol brought on by obesity are risk factors for heart disease. Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes as the body is more resistant to insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar. Blood sugar becomes higher than normal when the body is resistant to insulin. Breathing problems such as asthma and sleep apnea are associated with obesity. Sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing while sleeping and leads to multiple awakenings during the night. As a result, some people experience excessive daytime sleepiness. Asthma risk increases with obesity. Your knees and hips experience stress due to excess weight resulting in osteoarthritis. The psychosocial effects of living with obesity can lead people to having low self-esteem.

• Lifestyle
• Genetics
• Metabolism (how the body uses food to make energy)
• Socioeconomics

• Improved lipid profile
• Less high blood pressure
• Improvement/remission of type 2 diabetes
• Resolution of obstructive sleep apnea/breathing problems

Both surgical options are done with small incisions (minimally invasively/laparoscopically).

Sleeve gastrectomy

In a sleeve gastrectomy, the stomach is made smaller by removing 80% of it. Patients lose weight by eating less without changing how food is digested. Excess weight loss of approximately 60% is expected within a year of surgery. This is the most common weight loss procedure performed.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

During the surgery, changes to the stomach and intestine are made that affect absorption and digestion of food.

The surgery team will work with you to help you decide which operation works best for you.

In order to qualify to get bariatric surgery at Denver Health as an adolescent, you must meet the following requirements:

• All patients (with their parents if under 18) must complete the steps to bariatric surgery outlined on this page, starting with watching the video, completing the online form and getting two referrals from a primary care provider
• You are between the ages of 16-20.
• You have a body mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile or greater (BMI 40-65 or >35 with obesity-related medical conditions).
• You have a support system (parents, family, spouse).
• You are willing to accept a lifelong commitment to care after surgery and have realistic expectations of the results of the surgery.
• You understand and agree to the procedure.

Common reasons patients may not qualify for bariatric surgery include:

• Active substance abuse (including smoking)
• Pregnancy
• Planning for pregnancy within the year
• Breastfeeding
• Inability to understand the program/surgery
• Having a disability (medical, cognitive, psychiatric) that prevents participation in the program and after care