Question:
CAN A 15 YR OLD HAVE A GASTRIC BYPASS?
While on vacation this past week I met a woman who has a 15 yr old daughter that has been obese all her life. She is currently around 300 lbs. Do any of you know if a 15 yr old can have this surgery? — Peggy D. (posted on July 29, 2002)
July 28, 2002
Personaly I used surgery as a LAST resort AFTER I had tried everything else
first. At 15 could she have possibily tried everything else? Also I dont
know if when I was 15 if I would have been able to do the daily
requirments...water protein first walk ect plus supliments. Hell I have a
hard time some days doing 'em at 33! I think it CAN be done but really they
need to think it over and research it just like we all did and find a
surgeon that is willing to discuss it with them. I wish her the best. Being
a big teenager is NOT easy. ttfn
— Sassy M.
July 28, 2002
There have been quite a few debates in the last few months about age and
surgery. Did you check the library? You may be able to find a lot of
info!
— Virginia N.
July 28, 2002
I don't know what kind of insurance your friend has, but I know my
insurance (BCBS of Michigan-Community Blue) has an age limit of 18-60. It
will depend on a lot of things like the previous poster stated. Good Luck!
— Susan L.
July 28, 2002
My surgeon does teenagers on a SELECTED basis, where their health will be
improved by the weight loss. As for the earlier comment have they tried
everything at this young age... Do you know ANYONE who grew up MO and went
on to loose the weight? Sadly it just doesnt happen..
— bob-haller
July 29, 2002
I can only imagine what it must be like to be so heavy at such a tough age
(I was considered "fat" in a size 12!). BUT I also have to wonder
if most 15 year olds could do the things they have to do to make the
surgery work for them. It is hard enough to avoid sugar at 33. I can't
imagine having to avoid sodas and ice cream and candy bars at 15 when all
your friends are eating them. Plus I am sure that the sudden male attention
would be very hard to deal with at that age. That's not to say that there
aren't teenagers who could do it, but it would take an exceptionally mature
one in my opinion to handle all the stuff that goes along with it.
— ctyst
July 29, 2002
I know young people (teens) who have had the gastric banding procedure. I
think it would be worth checking into. Imagine sparing that young lady
years of heartache that come with MO.
— Loricat
July 29, 2002
I agree with Lori. I wish I had known about this surgery when I was 15. I
must have weighed around 260 back then. I am 21 now and having WLS next
week, and I can't help but think how different, (and possibly better?) my
life would be if I could/would have had this surgery back then. As we all
know, being overweight at ANY age is difficult, but I think the younger you
are the harder it is. Some kids (and some adults!) are sooo mean!!!!!
— fropunka
June 1, 2004
My daughter had WLS not once but twice. Once at 13 1/2 she had a sleeve
gastrectomy...she lost 40 lbs. It was revised at 14 1/2 to a full RNY, she
has lost 90 lbs. now and is still loosing. I'm absolutely, 100% sure it
saved her life. Go for it, don't take no for an answer. Dr. Albert Wetter,
in Burlingame, CA does it for those adolescents who it is obviously
genetic.
— sandieguy
June 1, 2004
We all had to try "everything" prior to having surgery and guess
what, our everything did only one thing - Left us morbidly obsese,
depressed and unhealthy. I personally do not see that it does anything
wonderful for us, our bodies, or our spirits to have to endure years of
failure and poor health prior to having surgery in the cause of "doing
everything" . As everyone including the National institute for health
knows, diets only work < 5 % of the time. WLS works.
— **willow**
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