Obesity seeing more teens go under the knife

The use of gastric banding surgery can result in a greater percentage of weight loss among obese teens compared to lifestyle intervention, a new study has found.

Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that as adolescent obesity continues to escalate as a common health problem, bariatric surgery, which involves having a gastric band fitted to reduce the size of the stomach, is becoming a more acceptable treatment option.

According to Professor David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, while gastric banding is considered a drastic measure, it can be an appropriate procedure for young people as a last resort to achieving a healthy weight.

He said: "When you look at the concept of gastric banding in teenagers, then it is very important to say that it must be done after everything else has been tried and alongside diet and physical activity measures."

At the end of 2009, the National Centre for Social Research reported that childhood obesity is linked with numerous long-term and immediate health risks.

Figures show that around three in ten children aged two to 15 in the UK are either overweight or obese.

Weight is a key lifestyle factor that can impact a person's health insurance premiums, insurers warn.

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