Bariatric surgery for kids? Really?

[Georgiagranny]

I've always thought bariatric surgery was a last resort and never thought it was a solution for kids. Kids! For one thing, it's dangerous. For another, without education and close supervision, it probably won't last.

How about instead of an expensive and dangerous last resort, parents quit feeding their kids fast food and unlimited sodas and sweets, combined with getting them off their dead centers gazing at their screens and playing video games, and they actually move around and play. Remember playing? Hopscotch, baseball, volleyball, badminton, basketball, not to mention school sports like track.

Seems to me that people would rather take the easy way than the hard work required to change eating habits that will last a lifetime.

 

[Remy]

You probably don't want to get me started but this can be an addiction like anything else. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes. The thing is, one can never go cold turkey on food. I don't think this is a really good solution. I've know a couple of people who had the surgery and had GI issues afterward. I also wonder how many doctors offices consider abuse and trauma when dealing with a fat child. I think I know that answer.

 

[Jeni]

There are many reasons a child can be overweight .....
it is odd to me that ......an underfed child would be reported and perhaps taken away from a parent ........but the obese child is not an issue....
We had kids who were extremely overweight ........but school counselors/ teachers never even glance their way.... wasn't that suppose to be the safety net to noticed when a child is in a situation?

There is no win ... as being really overweight as a child is already causing life long damage .... without some sort of intervention
perhaps heart and other organs overworking even bone bowing.
The serious mental health issues of being picked on or made fun of ..... not addressed by the quick fix idea of surgery.
But thanks to the people who think this is just body positivism the child suffers in silence.

The idea of surgery without mental treatment for eating disorder is most likely not going to work..... risk of surgery long term complications and issues and the surgery does not work does not sound like a well thought out plan.

Several people have post op issues with digestion and other conditions. A close friend missed serious issues that signaled another ... Fatal disease because she always thought it was the continual issues she had after her surgery .....

 

[Alligatorob]

I've always thought bariatric surgery was a last resort and never thought it was a solution for kids. Kids! For one thing, it's dangerous. For another, without education and close supervision, it probably won't last.

I've known several people who have had the surgery, none were able to keep weight off, not all of it anyway. And some had serious side effects. In my experience it is dangerous and of limited effectiveness. Problem is we have no real cures for obesity.

There are many reasons a child can be overweight .....

Maybe, my expertise is limited to myself. I was an overweight child, according to my mother from a few months of age. My parents tried to help me eat right, and we always had good food. Most of my childhood I was on a "diet", my parents even took me to a fat doctor for a prescription, amphetamines I think. Nothing kept me from eating lots of junk and gaining weight. I learned from an early age how to sneak or steel food. Not my parent's fault, except maybe genetically. I have been overweight, often obese, most of my life. I still struggle with it every day, not always successfully. I am glad I did not get the surgery, I did seriously consider it several times...

I have no solutions to offer, just the observation that for me there really is no cure except to fight it and keep fighting it.

this can be an addiction like anything else. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes. The thing is, one can never go cold turkey on food. I don't think this is a really good solution.

Yes, I believe I am addicted and as you say going cold turkey with food doesn't work. Actually I have tried, successfully fasted for a week to 10 days sometimes, but when the fast ended the eating compulsion was still there. This morning I am struggling not to go back to the kitchen and have more breakfast... hunger has nothing to do with it.

 

[hollydolly]

I've known several people who have had the surgery, none were able to keep weight off, not all of it anyway. And some had serious side effects. In my experience it is dangerous and of limited effectiveness. Problem is we have no real cures for obesity.

Maybe, my expertise is limited to myself. I was an overweight child, according to my mother from a few months of age. My parents tried to help me eat right, and we always had good food. Most of my childhood I was on a "diet", my parents even took me to a fat doctor for a prescription, amphetamines I think. Nothing kept me from eating lots of junk and gaining weight. I learned from an early age how to sneak or steel food. Not my parent's fault, except maybe genetically. I have been overweight, often obese, most of my life. I still struggle with it every day, not always successfully. I am glad I did not get the surgery, I did seriously consider it several times...

I have no solutions to offer, just the observation that for me there really is no cure except to fight it and keep fighting it.

Yes, I believe I am addicted and as you say going cold turkey with food doesn't work. Actually I have tried, successfully fasted for a week to 10 days sometimes, but when the fast ended the eating compulsion was still there. This morning I am struggling not to go back to the kitchen and have more breakfast... hunger has nothing to do with it.

Rob...you don't look overweight at all... certainly not obese, so how did you finally conquer your weight issues ?... It would be interesting to know after a lifetime of addiction

 

[Mrs. Robinson]

My eldest daughter ha gastric bypass surgery when she was 17 years old. She knew someone who had had it,researched it (A LOT) and was adamant about having it. We finally let her. Back then (33 years ago) it was a very major surgery. Well,it still is,but now they do it laproscopally-not then. Incision from sternum to pubis,one week in the hospital. Being a kid,she actually got out in 5 days-they recover faster lol.

She lost 117 pounds and went on to have 2 babies with no complications. Now,at 54 years old,she is still slender. Her surgeon (who was the most awesome man-I trusted him completely)used to say that he wished he could help more kids-before they developed all the health issues that obesity causes.

That being said,I now do know that there can be some very bad complications from this surgery. Luckily,our daughter did not have any of them.

 

[Alligatorob]

so how did you finally conquer your weight issues ?

I have not, just am managing it a bit better for now. My weight is still up and down. At my maximum I weighed 360 pounds, a couple of years ago I got down to 143, which I believe was an unhealthy low weight for me. I have gone back up to about 185 and am struggling to not go higher.

The one thing that has most consistently worked for me is to get support from others with the same or similar problems. Not professionals, just people I can talk to about it who understand. Doesn't always work, but it seems to me to be the best thing I've found.

Rob...you don't look overweight at all... certainly not obese

Thanks, very kind of you to say that. However as I have said before clothing can hide a lot of faults... But at least I am in the weight range where I can hide the fat, much of my life clothing didn't help.

 

[Alligatorob]

My eldest daughter ha gastric bypass surgery when she was 17 years old. She knew someone who had had it,researched it (A LOT) and was adamant about having it. We finally let her. Back then (33 years ago) it was a very major surgery. Well,it still is,but now they do it laproscopally-not then. Incision from sternum to pubis,one week in the hospital. Being a kid,she actually got out in 5 days-they recover faster lol.

She lost 117 pounds and went on to have 2 babies with no complications. Now,at 54 years old,she is still slender. Her surgeon (who was the most awesome man-I trusted him completely)used to say that he wished he could help more kids-before they developed all the health issues that obesity causes.

Good for you and your daughter! It was clearly the right thing for her. I know some do have more success with the surgery, just not the people I know so much. There are good published studies, but the answers are not clear to me.

Long-term Study of Bariatric Surgery for Obesity: LABS
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/about-nid...ity/longitudinal-assessment-bariatric-surgery

Bariatric Surgery and Long-term Durability of Weight Loss
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5112115/

 

[Nathan]

Bariatric surgery is just a bad idea for anybody. However, the increasing rate of obesity has be come epidemic. The junk food lifestyle plays a big part, but what is becoming more widely recognized is the prevalence of Obesogens, which trigger metabolic changes caused by exposures to chemicals.
What To Know About Obesogens

 

[Jeni]

Bariatric surgery is just a bad idea for anybody. However, the increasing rate of obesity has be come epidemic. The junk food lifestyle plays a big part, but what is becoming more widely recognized is the prevalence of Obesogens, which trigger metabolic changes caused by exposures to chemicals.
What To Know About Obesogens

thank you an interesting article
I in many discussions have thought it was metabolic changes but never had the name of it.....sadly far too few read labels or really know what they are consuming especially the young.

 

[HoneyNut]

it is odd to me that ......an underfed child would be reported and perhaps taken away from a parent ........but the obese child is not an issue....
We had kids who were extremely overweight ........but school counselors/ teachers never even glance their way

Except the schools are part of the problem. They don't provide regular milk that would taste good and keep the children feeling full longer, instead they have low-fat and fat free milks with the choice of chocolate or strawberry that have a lot of added sugar so the unsuspecting kids wind up on the rollercoaster ride of high blood sugar then insulin and end up hungrier. I don't think schools have ever heard of fiber either.

You're right though about in America being fat isn't seen as being as bad as being too thin. In America if your horse is too skinny it can be rescued by animal control people, but if it is too fat it won't be. I was really surprised to find out that in the UK animals can be seized and their owners prosecuted for the animal being obese. I'm sure that is good but sounded quite surprising.

 

[Jeni]

Except the schools are part of the problem. They don't provide regular milk that would taste good and keep the children feeling full longer, instead they have low-fat and fat free milks with the choice of chocolate or strawberry that have a lot of added sugar so the unsuspecting kids wind up on the rollercoaster ride of high blood sugar then insulin and end up hungrier. I don't think schools have ever heard of fiber either.

You're right though about in America being fat isn't seen as being as bad as being too thin. In America if your horse is too skinny it can be rescued by animal control people, but if it is too fat it won't be. I was really surprised to find out that in the UK animals can be seized and their owners prosecuted for the animal being obese. I'm sure that is good but sounded quite surprising.

That is surprising......

The US simply plays pretend on many issues ....... no one notices or concerned until a crisis or death..... many agencies/ people that are suppose to notice or step in don't ........ and some topics like obesity are somehow deemed off limits...
schools often have very suspect items if you ask me.... picked up kids at school recently grand child had a bag of sliced apple........... that was treated with who knows what as it was not browning at all after 6 plus hours......... that is not something i want them to eat

 

[Remy]

There are many reasons a child can be overweight .....
it is odd to me that ......an underfed child would be reported and perhaps taken away from a parent ........but the obese child is not an issue....
We had kids who were extremely overweight ........but school counselors/ teachers never even glance their way.... wasn't that suppose to be the safety net to noticed when a child is in a situation?

There is no win ... as being really overweight as a child is already causing life long damage .... without some sort of intervention
perhaps heart and other organs overworking even bone bowing.
The serious mental health issues of being picked on or made fun of ..... not addressed by the quick fix idea of surgery.
But thanks to the people who think this is just body positivism the child suffers in silence.

The idea of surgery without mental treatment for eating disorder is most likely not going to work..... risk of surgery long term complications and issues and the surgery does not work does not sound like a well thought out plan.

Several people have post op issues with digestion and other conditions. A close friend missed serious issues that signaled another ... Fatal disease because she always thought it was the continual issues she had after her surgery .....

I was actually bullied about my weight by a teacher in high school. This is 100% true.

I sure don't believe in the body positivity for heavy people. No one should be made fun of and anyone wants to wear clothes they like. But some of this stuff I've watched on YouTube is disturbing. The reactions to them are also. Comments etc..

One video, a young large woman (teens probably) was eating junk food in the car, filming herself. There was a woman next to her who didn't look thin either, probably the mother. And I wondered if she wanted her daughter fat. For those with personality disorders, it's a way to keep possession of their children and isolate them. On the abuse forum I go to, I know I have read at least 2 posts where people said their mother tried to over feed them. And lots of other body image issues.

 

[Jeni]

I was actually bullied about my weight by a teacher in high school. This is 100% true.

I sure don't believe in the body positivity for heavy people. No one should be made fun of and anyone wants to wear clothes they like. But some of this stuff I've watched on YouTube is disturbing. The reactions to them are also. Comments etc..

One video, a young large woman (teens probably) was eating junk food in the car, filming herself. There was a woman next to her who didn't look thin either, probably the mother. And I wondered if she wanted her daughter fat. For those with personality disorders, it's a way to keep possession of their children and isolate them. On the abuse forum I go to, I know I have read at least 2 posts where people said their mother tried to over feed them. And lots of other body image issues.

I am sorry you had a bad teacher in high school. ................
I am not advocating those who bully just pointed out the disparity in teachers trying to intervene..when a child has a noticeable problem.

I mentioned teachers because many of public believe they either have time to counsel or reach out .. on many issues .... it was pointed out several times as covid was waning................. school was important for detecting possible abuse and issues in children ..........
Just In my opinion when it comes to the subject of obesity this is just NOT on their radar......or is ignored.

I have watched some of those shows like "my 600 lb life" and loved ones and family all brought loads of food to some who are Morbidly obese and simply could not even stand or get out of bed ......... that is beyond enabling ...... that is assisted suicide.

perhaps what you mentioned keeping a child isolated and heavy to keep under their control ....... could fall under
Munchausen by proxy.........

 

[Remy]

@Jeni don't worry, I didn't take any offense or issue with your post. I don't think that teachers can notice everything. I sure fell through the cracks. But my abuse didn't show. I didn't show up with a black eye to school. I'm a mandated reporter for the work I do. But some things are not obvious.

My 600 pound life. I've thought myself about the enablers. It's insane. Plus these people should be in immediate therapy when they start DR Now's program. There are some who have had severe trauma. I watch that show and I'm grateful I never got that size. I didn't want enablers around me, I wanted people away from me.

 

[RadishRose]

On the abuse forum I go to, I know I have read at least 2 posts where people said their mother tried to over feed them. And lots of other body image issues.

I have wondered if this would constitute bona fide child abuse?

Stuffing kids with boxes of candy, ice cream, cake, greasy burgers fries, sodas, nuggets.... you all know what I mean.

The little fat kid goes to school, is made fun of, then becomes a diabetic with rotten teeth.

I think it is child abuse. Physical and emotional harm.

 

[Remy]

I have wondered if this would constitute bona fide child abuse?

Stuffing kids with boxes of candy, ice cream, cake, greasy burgers fries, sodas, nuggets.... you all know what I mean.

The little fat kid goes to school, is made fun of, then becomes a diabetic with rotten teeth.

I think it is child abuse. Physical and emotional harm.

I agree it's abuse. But a lot of abuse is hidden. We didn't have junk in the house growing up, but I still managed to develop an eating disorder. Sadly those kids get more than diabetes and bad teeth. They get isolation, further abuse, low self image. It's a mess. And getting out and getting exercise isn't always the answer for a kid. They may be isolated and not released from the house like I was or not able to make friends.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

My late DIL had weight loss surgery and it worked for her. My honorary daughter had it and it worked for her but the dietary rules and restrictions can be a pain. Unfortunately one of my DIL's nephews (her twin's son), who was morbidly obese, went in for weight loss surgery against his mother's advice, and died in the recovery room after his BP tanked! So yes, in certain instances, the surgery can be dangerous. I can't imagine a parent allowing the surgery to be performed on their child unless a pediatrician and pediatric surgeon agreed that it was necessary to save the child's life.