Doctor Says Surgery Is Not A Quick Fix For Obese Teens

By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We all know that obesity is an epidemic in this country. If you have an overweight teen thinking about surgery to tackle the problem, be prepared, it's not a quick fix.

Obese teens will most likely be obese adults suffering multiple health issues, according to Dr. Fernando Bonanni, Director of the Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at Abington Memorial Hospital. He expects teenage patients to spend up to a year before undergoing the procedure learning about nutrition, the surgery, its follow-up and the effects of obesity.

"They don't understand it yet. They haven't suffered the pain in the joints as much as an adult whose obese and is 40-years-old. They don't understand that they can't breathe and it will decrease the length of their life by over 20-years; they don't get that."

Generally a teen should be two-years post puberty, but he would do it younger if there are other serious health issues needing to be addressed.