 Scientists have discovered that most teens are only successful in losing about 22 pounds even with medication. An increasing number of teens are much more obese than that.
There are lots of medical conditions associated with this amount of obesity in teenagers include diabetes, sleep apnea and heart disease. It has been found that the quality of life for obese teens is about the same as those kids suffering from cancer.
Evidently, the social aspect of these kids’ life is also much affected by being obese in a society that looks on beauty as something so much to be desired.
Weight loss surgery is called lap band surgery or biriatric surgery. Weight loss surgery for teens has become the treatment of choice in those whom medication will not produce the required results in weight loss. This type of weight loss surgery can normally be performed with a laparoscope. This procedure involves three, sometimes four, small scissions in the area of abdomen. Then a band is placed around the top part of the stomach that makes a small pouch.
After such procedure when the teen eats, he will only be able to eat a small amount of food before feeling full. It will make the control of the appetite much easier.
Physicians say that this type of surgery is very safe. And it shows the required results -- weight comes off. In fact, the usual weight loss is about sixty five pounds.
The price of this surgery is about $30,000. But there is good news - more and more insurance companies are covering the procedure. This is advantageous for both those suffering from obesity as a teen and insurance company as it actually saves the insurance company money in the long run.
Now, this surgery is still the cure of last resort. As a rule, the first step in the treatment of teen obesity would be dieting. This might be attended by a support group, or even a dieting camp. The second step would be medication. And the final result would be weight loss surgery for the teens.
This treatment of teen obesity is a common weight loss surgery for teens in the United States and Australia.
There is one more method for obesity treatment, it is gastric bypass surgery. In this case, the small pouch at the top of the stomach is attended by a modification in the connection of the small bowel to the top of the stomach instead of the bottom of the stomach. In this case, the food bypasses the bottom of the stomach.
Gastric bypass surgery, while more forcible has a longer track record. Consequently, the risks and benefits are much more familiar.
| 
