Adolescent Bariatric Surgery

For many children who are diagnosed with obesity, the process of losing weight can feel hopeless and overwhelming. Obesity is a health condition, and among children it is primarily a result of genetics.  is a chronic, progressive, recurring disease that is treatable.   In children with obesity the intestinal hormones that signal the brain to feel hungry and to feel full don’t work, so children may want to eat more. Furthermore, the food they eat may be processed differently, causing more calories to be stored as fat than in children without obesity. Patients who have obesity are at risk for developing other conditions, such as diabetes, sleep apnea, liver disease, and joint pain. If your child has severe obesity or if they are suffering from severe weight-related complications, our team is here to consult with you to see if metabolic and bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) is a good treatment choice. We are the most experienced metabolic and bariatric surgery program on the West Coast and one of only a few dedicated to treating children that are accredited by the American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).

Obesity is not the fault of the child who has it, nor is it their parent’s fault. It is simply a medical condition that requires treatment, and at Stanford we have effective treatments to offer children. Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) can effectively treat obesity; it is recommended for patients with severe obesity or moderate obesity with significant complications. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that MBS be used in the treatment of children with a BMI > 120% of the 95th percentile and a serious obesity-related medical condition, or a BMI >140% of the 95th percentile. Surgery will not be denied based on age, race, or gender. You can calculate your child’s BMI percentile here: https://www.cdc.gov/bmi/child-teen-calculator/index.html

MBS alters the stomach or intestines to change how your child’s body responds to food. When combined with lifestyle changes, family support, medications, and the expertise of the multidisciplinary team at the world-class Center for Healthy Weight at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, most children successfully keep their weight off for the long term. In 2004, Packard Children’s was the first children’s hospital in California to offer MBS to adolescents. Our program was the first West Coast Children’s hospital to become accredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, in partnership with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Led by Janey Pratt, MD  our multidisciplinary team of clinicians are trained to treat the unique needs of children with obesity. Our team also works closely with the adult Bariatric Surgery and Medical Weight Loss Center of Excellence at Stanford for a smooth transition of care as your child grows up.