Just like adults, many teenagers struggle with their weight. Some are considered morbidly obese, meaning that their body mass index is above 35 and they are at risk for many fatal conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or high cholesterol. Weight loss surgery is not an easy way out for these teenagers, but more and more are looking at it as a viable option for weight loss.

Although weight loss surgery for teenagers is a hot button issue, the reality is that far fewer teenagers are undergoing surgery than most people believe. In the United States last year, roughly one thousand people under the age of eighteen underwent weight loss surgery, with most being either sixteen or seventeen. Compare this to the quarter of a million adults in the country each year who undergo the same procedures and it becomes clear that overall, the number is relatively small.

Teenagers turn to weight loss surgery for the very same reasons that adults do. Typically it is because of health concerns and the overwhelming desire to reach a healthy weight. However, many teenagers want to have weight loss surgery for cosmetic reasons or to look more like their peers. Teenagers who try to lose weight through diet and exercise but don't have encouraging results may feel as if bariatric surgery is their only option to be healthy.

There are several valid concerns that apply to teenagers undergoing weight loss surgery. First are the physical reasons, which include the fact that such a drastic procedure can hamper growth or interfere with puberty in some individuals. The issue of maturity is also a factor, as many parents and doctors simply don't believe that teenagers are mentally and emotionally ready for such a life changing procedure. It is important to realize that weight loss surgery is not a quick fix to the problem, but a tool that requires lots of effort on behalf of the patient both before, during and after surgery. There are repercussions that can last for a lifetime, and not all teenagers are prepared to deal with or understand the consequences.

One issue that hampers many teenagers from having weight loss surgery is the expense. Insurance companies do not consider anyone under the age of eighteen to be a candidate for weight loss surgery. As it can be an expensive procedure, parents either need to have the money independently or the teenager will have to wait.