Too young?

Hey! I'm new here. I just have no idea where to get started. I'm 17, just turned 17 in December . I was hoping to have the Roux en y procedure done. Everybody in my family is obese. My mom had the surgery, she was 350, both of my sisters had it, they were both almost 300, and 3 of my aunts, who were almost 400, had the surgery. I currently weigh 240, 93 pounds overweight. But I live in Nebraska, and I'm worried they won't allow it until I'm older. Is that true? I've tried so many different things to lose weight. Swimming, exersise classes, running (which KILLS my knees), low fat diets, high protien diets, low carb diets. I've tried to maintain, because I never seem to lose. But everybody in my family seems to just keep gaining. I do NOT want to get any bigger. Do you guys know how I can start working on getting a surgery date, even though I'm underage? My family's all for it, and so am I.

There are some doctors that will do it on under age patients. I having been trying to get gastric bypass since I was 16, but I had to wait until I was 18 for my insurance to be willing to pay for it. So I had mine in November 2007. Good luck!!!

I really don't feel like 17 is too young. By then you know how your body is and if weight is really a struggle. I think doctors are getting more open to the idea too. I know my surgeon has operated on someone your age, and my friend in California had her VSG surgery when she was even younger so... yeah, I think you could find a program that supports you and your age. It's amazing so many members of your family have done weight loss surgery! But then at least you know what you're dealing with. And we almost have the same statistics, by the way. I weigh around 230 and want to lose about 93 pounds too. Hopefully it'll happen for both of us! Nia

Yeah, I'm really hoping for it. That's awesome we have the same stats though. We're going to try though Medicaid first, but I think they're pretty strict with age. I'm going to the educational seminar on March 5. Woot!! =D

I dont think 17 is too young at all. If you have tried evrything else, this is what you need to do. AGE SHOULDNT MATTER.  I tried to get the bypass when I was 16, and they were going to do it but my mother wouldnt give me the ok, so i had to wait.  I got it done when right when i turned 18.   Thank god i live in MA... i have seen so many people on this site trying to get the bypass but cant cuz of age, i dont know why is so easy to get in MA.  Maybe is was the type of insurance i had or maybe i'm just really luckY! Good luck!

I have a bother who is 16 and weighs 268 pounds is that too young or light for any treatment. He has a BMI of 42. IS that too light he is double what he should be.