Criteria for Bariatric Surgery

Adolescents being considered for bariatric surgery should:

• Have failed >6 months of available, organized attempts at weight management, as determined by Dr. Schwarzenberg and the surgery team
• Have attained or nearly attained physiologic maturity
• Be very severely obese (BMI >40 kg/m2) with serious obesity-related comorbidities or have a BMI of >50 kg/m2 with less severe comorbidities Calculate your child's BMI and health risk.
• Have a family that demonstrates commitment to comprehensive medical and psychologic evaluations both before and after surgery
• Agree to avoid pregnancy for at least 1 year postoperatively
• Be capable of and willing to adhere to nutritional guidelines pre and postoperatively
• Be educated to the risks and responsibilities of bariatric surgery and assent to the procedure
• Provide informed assent to surgical treatment
• Demonstrate decisional capacity
• Have a supportive family environment