A leading British hospital plans to perform gastric balloon operations on obese children as young as 12.
Although the surgery -- which involves inserting a balloon into the abdomen then inflating it with salt water to mimic a feeling of satiety -- has prompted adults to lose weight, few studies have involved children.
In charge of the trial at Sheffield Children's Hospital, Dr. Neil Wright said only morbidly obese boys and girls (weighing 14st to 20st, between 190lbs to 280lbs) would be considered for surgery.
Candidates would have to have finished puberty, and also have a mature bone structure reflecting a "skeletal age" of 14.
"This is not a quick fix as the lifestyle advice and support is very important in helping young people to lose weight, and giving them the information they need in the future to manage a healthy lifestyle," says Dr. Wright.
Dr. Wright would work for up to two years with the young candidates, who will be recruited via GPs, hospital consultants, weight management programmes and even parents, to see if the balloons help the kids keep off the weight in the long run.
If the results are successful, the programme could be rolled out across the country where, recent stats claim, 25 per cent of boys and 33 per cent of girls from 2 to 19 years are overweight or obese.
It's estimated that obesity currently costs the UK around £2billion a year and shortens lives by around nine years due to associated health problems.
Some experts are predicting that parents may soon outlive their own children.
Scary stuff. Obesity is a huge problem here, too. Do you think Canada should adopt such radical means of reduction? Is surgery the only solution left to us?
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