Question:
Is it just out of the question for a 12yr old child who is 275lbs to have WLS
— [Anonymous] (posted on March 7, 2002)
March 7, 2002
hi...does the child have a medical condition that led him to get to this
weight or genitics or was it poor eating habits?
i know that i am pretty liberal mnded when it comes to raising my 3 kids
but i know that for insrance belly button piercings becoming the rage for
12/15 year olds and i refuse and oppose to discuss this with them as i feel
they arent old eough wise enough or life expiernced enough to make such a
descion.
i feel for you and him as i can imagine the inner and outer pain the child
is expierncing but i personally would not let the child have wls as this
will restrict him/her for life and who are we to make such a life altering
descion.
my daughter is the tallest in her school and also the biggest .shes going
to be in the 6'2 height range as a adult and i watch her eat now am are
horrified at the eating habits she has learnt from me and is it possible
he/she has just beentaught poor eating habits and eating to fast..
with the money used to pay for wls i would invest it in some cool neat gym
gear and get a personal trainer and call on your friends as a support
network to take hi/her on outings to places that involve alot of walking
and movement even days after school...
i know i wiuld help you if i could and am sure your friends would only be
willing if asked
— [Anonymous]
March 7, 2002
I don't know where you are from since you posted anonymously. However, here
in Cincinnati, there is a program especially for teens that are seeking
WLS. It is a comprehensive program out of our world reknown children's
hospital. Last December there was an article in our cincinnati enquirer.
Although it doesn't follow someone that young, they may be able to help
you. Here is the link to that page.
http://enquirer.com/editions/2001/12/04/tem_gastric_bypass.html Hope this
helps. Shelley
— Shelley.
March 7, 2002
No if the weight is causing serious health problems, like diabetes. My
surgeon Dr Schauer in Pittsburgh does teenagers on a case by case basis.
Good luck on your search.
— bob-haller
March 7, 2002
It could be that the child adapts easier to it now, as a youngster. Than
like most of us, after years and years of being obese. When a child is Dx
with Diabetes, or ANYTHING it probably is just as hard to adapt to that as
it would to this. Food may not become their crutch for soooo long- they
may have a chance to get involved in their life as a normal sized kid and
not miss out on the things some of us did!
— Karen R.
March 7, 2002
I know several kids of 13, 15, 17 who've had full RNY procedures. If I had
been able to spare my kids from the life I had TODAY, I would opt for the
lap band. Quick surgery, non-permanent, but enough to knock a few lbs off
WITHOUT compromising their growth. They can still be supplemented to cover
the food shortage, so the nutrition, bone damage doesn't scare me, as a
mom. The band can be opened wider if needed, closed tighter as needed.
Because it's adjustable, it would be my choice for a child who might
acquire other deadly problems, such as diabetes, sleep apnea, not to
mention a totally stunted social development. When the child reaches
adulthood, has babies or whatever, they can always opt to keep the band, go
for nothing or a better procedure at that time.
— vitalady
March 7, 2002
Do you all really consider a 12 year old a "teen". I mean they
handle so little of their own lives. I would say most 12 year olds are
hardly into puberty, no one would ever say someone of 12 could make the
decision or be old enough to be sexually active, marry, or have a child.
I'm not trying to be condemning here. I DO understand. I'm looking at WLS
for myself. And my nine year old girl, well I see her following in my foot
steps. Already about 175 lbs with horrible eating habits! Unless a
miracle happens and she can on her own become thin, I want her to have WLS
and have a normal life. BUT I don't think I could ever let that happen
until she was between 18 - 20 years old. Personally I would never dump and
life altering decision like WLS in her lap. I know I would have taken that
opportunity MANY times in my teen years had I had the chance, but I also
know the restrictions involved afterwards, I would not have handled as I
should have back then. Yes, all teens want to fit in and yes WLS would
help in one way but what about burger and shakes, pizza parties, pop, junk
food. Hanging out (and eating out) the same as their friends. We think as
adults social is about food, look at our kids! (no wonder obesity is
becoming an epidemic!!)
— [Anonymous]
March 7, 2002
Actually, at 12 and that weight, I think a Duodenal Switch is more
appropriate. Leave the kid normal functioning stomach and the capability
to eat normally.
— merri B.
March 7, 2002
Although i feel the child does need to lose weight for health reasons I
dont think this surgery should be considered for a child, however, the
child should be on a diet/excercise program...
— Deanna Wise
March 7, 2002
I applaud everyone's good intentions in their posts. But recommending diet
excercise, good eating habits. If that were possible, none of us would be
here. So many children suffer from life threatening deseases and learn to
cope with the limitations of their desease. I would proceed with the
testing to see if she is capable psychologicaly and physically of havings
this surgery. I like the lap band suggestion.
— faybay
March 7, 2002
I find it interesting that the arguments against having wls are the child
won't eat normally, sorry but a 12 year old weighing 275 isn't eating
normally now, and secondly that it would cause to many restrictions and be
too hard to handle emotionally. I was normal weight in High School, but I
saw the very overweight girls and they had many restrictions. Gym class was
a nightmare for these girls, very few can have the personality or
confidence to overcome that sort of excess weight and go through the normal
rituals of high school, dating etc., especially with most high school guys.
As for emotionally handling the surgery and the results, well, emotionally
handling puberty at such a high weight can't be easy. Kids are cruel, they
are cruel the thin ones, the fat ones, the short ones, the tall ones, etc,
but when one is such an obvious target it becomes to tempting for the
*teenage pack* to overlook. I don't know what I'd do for my child in this
situation, but I wouldn't rule out wls, after a lot of counseling and
research. Good Luck.
— Becky K.
March 7, 2002
Speaking from the point of view from someone who was a similar weight at
age twelve, I WISH I had had he option of WLS back then. It would have
saved me from the hell of highschool and stopped several suicide attempts.
Yes, that is a young age, and not all kids would be able to handle it, but
on an individual basis, it would be very feasable. Going through school
obese is the most horrible thing in the world. I know a lot of you gained
weight later in life, so never had this problem, but let me tell you I
would NEVER put anyone through what I went through. The taunts and jeers
made me go home every night wanting to die, and there were several times I
tried. Yes surgery is a big deal, but if the kid in question wants it and
understands the risks and what not, and there is a doctor who feels
comfortable enough to perform the surgery, I don't see why not. Michelle
had a good idea with the band. Although it isn't quite as succesful it
would probably be better for a child, and then in later years if it didn't
help, a revision might be an option. Good Luck to you!
— Deborah W.
March 7, 2002
Hi. I thought that I'd give my input here too. I am 'only' 21, so I was a
teenager not TOO long ago. I was also ALWAYS heavy as a child. I don't know
my exact weights when I was an early teen, but when I was 17 I was 240
pounds, and I hadn't had any drastic weight gains to speak of. Being the
'fat kid' is always hard- In elementry school I was teased, in junior high
I was left alone but didn't have many friends, but by highschool I made my
own way and being fat didn't get in the way of my life. I was VERY active-
chorus, theatre, honors society, french club, working, AND I had an active
social life with lots of great friends. Being fat didn't stop me from being
a teenager, I didn't just veg infront of the TV with a bag of Dorittos. In
retrospect, I don't think I could have handled this committment back then.
I am working VERY hard to stay committed now, I have had the time to
prepare myself for the lifestyle change, and educate myself on nutrition
ect. I wouldn't have done that back then, and they are important steps to
being successful permenently. I guess my only advice is to MAKE SURE your
child knows ALL the details. This needs to be HIS or HER choice, because
it's him or her that needs to do the work post-op. It is completely
understandable for you to be concerned for your child's health, and I
applaud you for being proactive, but your child needs to be involved every
step of the way. In my opinion it would be better to wait until your child
is a little older- but you know your child best. I wish you luck.
— Angela B.
March 7, 2002
I would rather see your 12 year old have weight loss surgery now than as a
teenager. Being a teenager is hard enough without having to relearn eating,
exercise, etc. at the same time. At 12, it will be easier for your child to
adapt to the changes required. By the time the difficult teenage years come
he/she will have already established the healthier habits and lifestyle
required after WLS. Best of luck to you and your child regardless of what
you choose.
— [Deactivated Member]
March 7, 2002
Hi, I have a daughter who is 13 and she weighs 165 and she is no taller
than me and I am 4 feet 10 inches. after visiting the dietitian yesterday I
realized that I help contribute to my daughters overweight because of the
junk I cook and the fast-food restaurants we went to. My daughter doesn't
seem like she cares about being overweight because she still is very active
and I also learned from that phsyc DR that children get there obesity from
the maternal side of the family which really made me feel bad since 3
generation of women in my family are all obese. I would never consider her
to have this kind of surgery now because it would be way to much for her
because it is way to much for me. She is being followed by a DR who is
concerned about her weight but has told me as long as she stays active and
I stop feeding her junk and she has no health problems at this moment she
will be ok until the future. One thing I have taught my daughter is not to
be cruel to kids because she would not like someone to call her the names,
and we also come from a church back ground where she knows that certain
people just say things to be evil and mean because it will gain them
popularity. If my daughter in the future when she was older and wanted this
surgery I would stand behind her but ONLY if she could handle change. Some
people have a hard time with change. I would not be surprised if my
daughter lost weight after I had surgery just because in the way I have
changed my cooking and eating habits.
— Lovett
March 7, 2002
I was never that large when I was a teenager, but I was much larger than
all of my peers. My family moved around alot, and in every new school I was
an easy target for the already established teenage
"cliques"(groups). I wished more than a few times in Jr high that
I were dead. I never actually attempted suicide, but it weighed heavily on
my mind for a long time. By the time High school came I had established my
own personality, and made myself what I am today. My life isn't all peaches
now. I know I have been pased over for promotions, and not hired for
certain jobs because of my weight. Although I survived this 12 year old may
not. He/She may decide that taking their own life is the better alternative
to a lifetime of ridicule, and torment. I says give the child the choice.
Make sure they understand the difficulties of the Surgery, and what to
expect. Have them join a Support group for WLS. Open up their mind to the
possibility that there is a better way to live. I only wished I had known
about this at that age. maybe it would have made a difference in how I was
treated in school. This is not to say that that is the only reason to do
this.
A 12 year old that is 275 pounds is likely to die at a very early age,
because of Diseases brought on by extreme Obesity. All these considerations
should be taken into account when providing the child with information.
Give all the Pros, and Cons, so they can make the decision on their own.
— sbinkerd1
March 8, 2002
I've said it before on ?s like these, and I'll say it again...I wouldn't
trust a doc who would do this surgery on anyone under 18 y.o. At that
point they are fully an adult, capable of making any decisions they want
about their body. Heck, I don't think most plastic surgeons would to a
boob job on a teenager, would they? In my opion, WLS is far too radical
peri and post op for a young person to handle...what about their
nutritional needs? A teen is still growing. Would they do all that's
required (protein shakes, vits, etc.) to maintain their health and ensure
they grow properly? The last time I said this I got flamed, someone
retorted that "Obviously I was NOT a mo teenager..." No, I wasn't
but I WAS a fat kid and I remember vividly a boy's cruel remark at the age
of 12 providing the impetus I needed to crash diet it off that summer
(granted, I did only have 50 lbs. to lose, not 150) but I did maintain a
normal weight throughout my teenage teenage years until college, where of
course I gained the "Freshman 50." Anyway, do everything you can
to help your child, BUT ONLY if he/she is receptive. I think a parent
who's constantly pushing diets (and esp. WLS) on you can be just as
devistating to your self-esteem as the cruelest of cruel kids...I am
signing anon because I am sure what I've said here will lead to being
flamed again, but I am praying for release/relief from this obesity for
your child and your family's sake. God bless...
— [Anonymous]
March 8, 2002
Dear Anonymous,
I think you are entitled to your own opinion. That's what this site is all
about. I just think it's a huge mistake to compare weight loss surgery to a
boob job or any other cosmetic surgery. WLS is not cosmetic surgery. By the
way, reputable plastic surgeons do plastic surgery on teens and some pre
teens in this country every single day. I'm not saying I agree with it. I'm
just saying it happens. You're comparing apples and oranges here. I had my
tonsills out when I was 4 and I had my appendix removed as a teen. Do you
think those surgeons were irresposible to operate on a person under 18? I'm
very thankful they were willing to. Both surgeries improved my quality of
life a great deal. Kind of like WLS improves lifes for many MO people.
Best wishes,
— [Deactivated Member]
March 8, 2002
I am currently involved in a physical theraphy treatment for injuries not
related to my WLS, and asked my theraphist if my almost 11 year old son
could also do the weight lifting exercises with me, thinking that it would
be fun and he might loose a few pounds. His answer suprized me, I did not
realize that children are not considered fully grown till beyond age 14.
During the pre-teen years there are a lot of changes to their bodies other
than the obvious ones due to hormones. Granted that being a fat kid &
teen is not fun, I was one too, but waiting a few years for mother nature
to finish her job before permanently altering it may have some benifits.
While a 12 year old is definately effected by body image, peers and media,
I do not think they have the maturity to make such a decision effecting the
rest of their life, nor can they understand the impact of all the
restrictions for the rest of their life. Comparing an obese child to a
diabetic child is also not accurate, a diabetic child must make the
necessary changes or he will die, and with in a short time---the obese
child does have time before complications from being over weight will set
in. I would look for a pediatric dietician/nutritionalist and see if there
isn't a program that educates this child in proper nutrition, eating
habits, body image and gets them involved in exercise and other activites.
If these fail, then there is WLS, but by then perhaps the child will have
finished growing. Also, before making a decision on WLS, think about how
you as an adult would feel if your parent did something to permanently
alter your digestive system/processes.
— Sue F.
March 8, 2002
My feeling has always been that WLS is a drastic, last ditch effort and
should only be done when you are very sure nothing else will work. My 14
year old daughter is 5'6" and weighs 212 (well, actually, 206 now).
No question that our eating habits could have been better, but equally no
question that she has inherited her mother's metabolism, and gains weight
very easily. Added to this her recent diagnosis with insulin resistance
and PCOS, making weight loss even more difficult. Would I recommend her
for surgery at this point? Absolutely not! As a family we have all
contracted with each other to improve our eating and exercise habits (even
with both my husband and I having WLS, we eat too much sugar!!). This can
only be a good thing for all of us. If at the time she is 21 she has been
unsuccessful with weight loss and controlling her medical conditions with
diet, I would not hesitate to help her have the surgery. But now, there
are too many other options to try. -Kate-
— kateseidel
March 8, 2002
My heart goes out to this dear child!! They must be absolutely miserable.
People can be cruel, especially children and most especially Junior High
age children. Whether or not WLS is a viable solution for a child that age,
I have no idea. My suggestion would be to shop around until you find a
caring Doctor, willing to work with this child and his/her family in a
caring, compassionate way. If you live in a larger city it may be possible
to find someone who specializes in this area. Perhaps you would be willing
to re-post and let the WLS "family" know where you live and
someone might have a doctor to recommend. The treatment should begin with a
complete physical and lab work up to rule out physical reasons for the high
weight. The plight of this young person really touches my heart, they will
be in my prayers.
— Bobbie B.
March 11, 2002
I never weighed more than 165 pounds until I was 17 and I remember my
childhood as a time of extreme mental anguish due to my weight. I can just
imagine how bad it is and will be for this child! Everyone is talking about
how difficult it will be for this child with the restricted diet and
nutritional needs. I think that the mental burden of being a super obese
child/teen is far nore difficult. I think one important factor here is
whether the child wants and understands the surgery. If so, then I think
that the VBG would be the best for someone this young. It is reversible and
has less side effects and malabsorption than a RNY. It is hard to feel good
about putting such a young child through surgery... but this child is not
just ten to twenty pounds overweight. I just feel that waiting in this
particular case will condemn this child to years of needless suffering.
This is not an easy decision. I will pray for you.
— Julie S.
March 11, 2002
I just had to add my two cents here. I have taught junior high school kids,
and I understand quite a bit about their cognitive development. At 12 years
old, it is the RARE child that can understand the consequences of their
actions, even when those consequences are almost immediate. Their brains
are just not mature enough to allow them to process all the possibilities,
so many children just don't get it. Also, as another poster mentioned,
Mother Nature is not finished with a 12 year old. I have seen many obese
children at 13 or 14 who will come back to visit me as a high school
freshman sometimes a foot taller and no heavier! Or a foot taller AND
weighing less. Boys are especially prone to that. I used to teach science
(including nutrition and "family life" where we discussed
bodies)and would explain to the students constantly that their bodies are
not mature until around 16-18 for girls and 18-20 for boys. Their
nutritional needs are also great at this age. They MUST get all their
nutrients in. While sugar is NOT necessary, fat certainly is, and some WLS
will make it very difficult to tolerate fat in the diet. Carbohydrates are
also necessary at this stage. Finally, we all know that watching what you
eat, protein, water and exercise are key to making WLS work for us. It may
be a good idea to have a nutritionist and your PCP closely monitor your
child, prescribing a healthy diet and an exercise program. If your child
can stick with it for at least 6 months, regardless of weight loss, it may
be a sign that your child is one of the few who are more mature for their
age. If the child can not or will not stick to the plan, that may give you
a better idea of whether your child could handle the post-op regimen.
Whatever you decide, please make certain that your child understands what
is involved, and make the best decision for the child, not for you or
anyone else. I don't mean that to sound bad, it's just that sometimes we
want to fix things for our children SOOOO much, that we sometimes lose
track of what is best for them. For most of us, this is a last resort,
after we had tried ALL else. And it took many of us years to come to the
conclusion. Only you know whether your child needs WLS or can handle the
requirements,whatever decision you make, may you and your child find peace
with that decsion. Good luck.
— Maria H.
March 11, 2002
I know a 13 year old girl that has done wonderfully with her RNY and is at
goal weight now and playing basketball. I suggest not having the DS as it
wouldn't help her to change her eating habits as she would continue to be
able to eat junk food and the bad gas afterwards may cause her as many
problems with her social life as being obese has.
— Frank M.
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