A Radical Solution For Overweight Teens

(CBS)  At 240 pounds, 16-year-old Jodie Babich has spent most of her life feeling like an outcast, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports.

She tried to lose weight. "Exercise, all types of diets. I tried starving myself once," she says.

But Jodie has given up on the usual methods and opted to have a $20,000 weight reduction surgery that's currently only approved for adults. Dr. George Fielding of New York University Medical Center says 1 in 15 American children are obese enough to need this operation.

Fielding surgically constricted Jodie's stomach with a procedure called gastric banding. It's like a girdle for the stomach. Thorough a tiny incision, a silicon band is tied around the upper part of the stomach. This narrows the stomach and causes patients to feel full.

"If you keep the band tight, you are not hungry — and if you are not hungry, you don't eat," Fielding says.

Fielding says most of his teen patients will lose about 60 percent of their excess weight in the first year.

"Before, I felt like I was holding a huge bag of weight," says teen Daniel Castro. "Now I feel so light and livelier and it is awesome."

Castro, who's 18, has dropped 170 pounds since his surgery a year and a half ago. He also dropped his odds of serious health issues like diabetes and heart disease.

"I had sleep apnea, I had high blood pressure, I had back and knee problems," he explains.

Says Fielding, "It's the only treatment that works for the morbidly obese. Not only does it treat their fat, but (it) cures with the diseases that goes with the fat."

But the procedure is not without its critics.

"What concerns me is that we are committing this child to a lifelong lap band, and we don't know the implications of that approach," says Dr. William Dietz, with the CDC Division of Nutrition and Physical Exercise.

But the device is reversible. In fact, about 1 in 300 adult patients ask t have the band removed, mostly to return to old eating habits. Other complications include perforation of the stomach and malfunction of the band.

Three weeks after the surgery, Jodie has lost 21 pounds and already gained something more.

"I am more confident about myself, definitely," she says. "I have totally helped my self-esteem and everything."

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For more information, the here for resources from the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.

Also the NYU Program for Surgical Weightloss Web site has more information on surgery options.

[CutTheCarb]

Obesity is a hormonal disorder, leading to excessive fat accumulation. It's not the fault of the obese. The obese are victims of the food recommendations from the government and health organizations. But instead of using orthodox methods, like gastric band surgeries, better invest in the prevention of obesity. Why don't look at diet? Obesity was rare before the 20th century and didn't exist among primitive living populations. This video, http://******/duSiUK gives you more insight into obesity.

[mtredhawk200]

Congratulations for being brave enough to make such a huge change! You will be an inspiration to a lot of people. Instead of accepting misery as a fact of life, you have changed your life and we all should be proud of you. I know I am!

[jbabs324]

hello, im jodi babich and i am the girl that is in this video and id like to tell all of you that its not atall how you are all thinking of this unless if youve been in my shoes or someone elses that is morbidly obese. Fat people dont sit on their butt all day and say they want to be fat. you are all getting the wrong view. there are people that are obese that dont sit and eat all day like you all are saying. they get out and they do exersize just like i did. you try every diet you possibly can. and than you be thankful that there are these surgons that are out there. and i cannot thank doctor fielding enough for what he has done for me. so before all of you start saying everything baout how everyone just eats all day.. think about it.. do you know what its like to be 280 pounds?

[daladala]

While it seems likely that there is a SMALL percentage of people who need some drastic measure to help them with weight loss, I know first hand that all one has to do is CONSUME FEWER CALORIES to lose weight. When you notice that someone has lost weight and you ask them how they did it, don't they always reply "I ate less"? I think people just need to be more patient and disciplined and not expect to lose 10 pounds per week (1-2 is more likely). Even at that rate you'll lose 50-100 pounds per year! The only thing preventing you from losing weight is your own lack of will power (in most cases)!

[hconklinjr]

From what I read of the responses ... sounds good. How about bringing back "Phys Ed" as a required class in our schools as well. Maybe I'm wrong (usually am) ... but it just seems that since Phys Ed went to an elective, and most of the sports are being taken out due to teaching too much competitiveness - the obesity problem started rearing its head.

[heresmy2cent]

Here's a "A Radical Solution For Overweight Teens."

Get a job--maybe you won't have as much time to eat so much.

[changeit4]

In order to understand health, nutrition, stress... all you need to comprehend is balance. Our culture is imbalanced toward excess and instant gratification--our entertainment, food, art... Time and again, yo-yo dieters, anorexics, and the obese must learn to eat balanced, get rid of junk like alcohol and smoke, include exercise and rest EVERY DAY.

The problem is our own behavior... thus only we are at fault. Don't blame it on Philip Morris, Little Debbie, or McDonald's. The good news is that we are the ones in control, and if you want it, you must do it. You can do it.

The solution is a balanced diet: no fried foods, no hydrogenated oils, less refined sugar. Combined with aerobic exercise and weight training, you will lose weight. No excuses. It's YOUR responsibility.

[pima6]

ncolsens, you are absolutely right. i have a "drastic plan" for these kids: mix in a salad, and go for a friggin jog.

[ademeyer]

I just read an article about anorexia - that's a deadly disease where people only wish they felt hungry. Its hell to be averse to eating too. Its perplexing to me that, on the one hand, scientists say a low calorie diet can help you live longer, but anorexics suffer all kinds of terrible disabilities and often die young. Its great these people with the bands lose a ton of weight, but are they getting enough nutirents for good health at the same time? Just wondering. I really don't understand nutrition too well.

[sbsamcmillan]

I truly believe in the bypass procedure. My sister had it done and has lost 150 pounds went from being a diabetic to having that undercontrol and blood pressure under control. This is a great procedure but one must think that this is a life changeing procedure and for most it would be for the better. Keep up the good work for all those who have had it done. Your all very special.