Dr. Carson Liu

Los Angeles, California

Monday, December 7, 2009

Bariatric Surgery and Age

As Americans wrestle with growing waistlines, bariatric (weight loss) surgery is increasing in popularity among all age groups. There are essentially three different types of bariatric surgery available to patients: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, Lap-Band surgery, and Realize Band surgery. Patients must fit certain requirements for each type of surgery, which are based on a number of factors, including age.

While the FDA recommends that only patients over the age of 18 should be considered eligible for Lap-Band and REALIZE Band surgery, adolescent patients may be eligible for weight loss surgery if they meet certain criteria.

Adolescents are eligible for bariatric surgery if:

The adolescent is at least age 13 or older
He or she has experienced an inability to lose weight after six months of physician supervised diet and exercise plans
Has a BMI (body mass index) over 40
Has obesity-related health problems, like type 2 Diabetes
Has the ability to understand and implement the permanent lifestyle changes associated with the surgery

Generally there is no upper age limit for Bariatric Surgery and older patients normally respond well to the procedure. According to a study by Baylor University physicians, patients age 65 and older are at no higher risk for complications after weight loss surgery than younger patients.

Please contact Los Angeles bariatric surgeon Dr. Carson Liu for more information.

posted by Tiffany at 3:09 PM