Adolescent Weight-Loss Surgeries Are on the Rise, Sparked by New Guidelines

Weight-loss surgeries among youth ages 10 to 19 increased by 20% in 2021 compared to 2020 according to a new study.
Nearly 20% of children and adolescents in the U.S. live with obesity, and severe obesity rates are climbing.
In 2019, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued new guidelines recommending weight-loss surgery and medication for some severely obese youth.
Bariatric surgeries alter the stomach and intestines to help patients lose weight by reducing food intake and changing how the body absorbs calories.
Rates of weight-loss surgery rose more sharply among Black and Hispanic youth, highlighting the disproportionate impact of obesity on communities of color.