ABSTRACT
Today’s worsening global obesity pandemic affects a huge number of children and young people, with over 22% of children classed as overweight across the world [1] and almost 17% of children classed as obese in the United States [2]. While public health policy at the local, national, and international levels struggles to battle this crisis, the suffering at an individual level remains very real. For the obese teenager, life-changing and life-shortening comorbidities are highly likely in adulthood and often a reality long before [3]. The therapeutic options available to this vulnerable group are not only limited but often expensive and frequently ineffective. In this context, the emergence of surgical treatments is offering a promising and effective option for the severely obese adolescent. This chapter examines the background to bariatric surgery in adults and its use in adolescents, explores the selection processes, the role of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), pre-and postoperative considerations, and outcomes in this young and emerging field.
