Weight Loss Surgery May Help Teens Be Physically Healthier, But What About Mentally?

Video Credit: Wochit
Published on January 21, 2020 - Duration: 00:41s

Weight Loss Surgery May Help Teens Be Physically Healthier, But What About Mentally?

The teen years are usually fraught, at best.

They're even more challenging when the teen is severely obese.

Bariatric surgery can help teens struggling with their weight get healthier -- physically.

But according to a new Swedish study, it doesn't always solve the mental and emotional problems that can accompany obesity.

In fact, UPI reports such problems may persist long after successful surgery.

According to the authors, surgery doesn't necessarily exacerbate mental health problems. Rather, it could be that adolescents who undergo surgery are monitored more closely, and therefore get better access to mental health care.

The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a vulnerable time, not least in adolescents with severe obesity.

Kajsa Jรคrvholm, Study Co-Author Skรฅne University Hospital, Sweden In general, the number of young people undergoing bariatric procedures is rapidly increasing globally.

However, estimates suggest that fewer than 1,000 are performed annually in this age group in the United States.


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