Should Children be Allowed to Have Weight-Loss Surgery?

There is no getting away from the fact that childhood obesity is a growing problem that needs to be tackled. Unfortunately, children generally develop a weight problem because their parents feed them too much of the wrong kind of food and do not encourage them to exercise enough. Parents, themselves, do not always have the best eating and exercise habits, which makes it even more difficult for them to get their children to adopt habits that will help them to maintain a healthy weight. Sometimes, out of desperation, parents will consider the option of weight-loss surgery for their child.

This seems a rather drastic measure, as surgery always comes with risks and certain weight-loss procedures, such as a gastric bypass, are irreversible. If a child has a gastric bypass, he will only be able to eat small quantities of food and some types of food he may not ever be able to tolerate again. He will have to take an array of vitamins and minerals every day to ensure that he doesn't miss out on the nutrients that are essential for his physical development. He will then have to continue taking tablets for the rest of his life, if he is going to remain healthy.

Weight-loss surgery might seem like the quickest route to a healthy weight, but it should really only be considered as a last resort. There are instances where children are so heavy that they are unable to lead a normal life, are bed bound and suffer from serious health issues, and so weight-loss surgery can seem like the safest option. Ideally, though, children should be encouraged to eat healthier, to stop snacking as much and to exercise more. By building up a calorie deficit, anyone should be able to lose weight, however old they are.

A child may be able to lose weight rapidly after having weight-loss surgery, but surgery will not address what caused him to gain weight in the first place. A child who comfort eats may find that having the option to eat taken away from him can be a rather traumatic experience, in spite of the fact he is able to see changes happening to his body. However, for a child who has been obese for most of his life, it can be rather difficult to be more positive about himself, especially if he has low self-esteem that is related to his weight issues.

Weight-loss surgery has become an increasingly popular option for obese individuals looking to lose weight quickly. However, children are too young to fully comprehend what they are putting their bodies through and the implications for their long-term health. It is rather risky to allow a child to have weight-loss surgery when he may not have the self-discipline to stick rigidly to a very-low calorie diet, which could jeopardise the success of the surgery and cause other problems. Ultimately, to lose weight a child has to adopt healthier eating and exercise habits, which should mean that weight-loss surgery becomes unnecessary.