To evaluate the long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery in adolescents over a five-year follow-up period, focusing on weight and laboratory parameters, and to compare these outcomes specifically with those of adolescents who underwent nutritional intervention.
Key Findings:
Adolescents who underwent bariatric surgery showed significant weight loss compared to those receiving nutritional intervention.
Laboratory parameters such as vitamin B12 levels were monitored, with notable deficiencies observed post-surgery, indicating a need for careful nutritional management.
Nutritional intervention resulted in modest weight loss but was less effective than bariatric surgery.
Interpretation:
Bariatric surgery appears to provide superior long-term weight loss outcomes compared to nutritional interventions in adolescents with severe obesity, though it carries risks of nutritional deficiencies that require careful monitoring.
Limitations:
The study is retrospective and may have selection bias, potentially affecting the generalizability of the findings.
Data on surgical intervention offers and declines were not available.
Follow-up duration and adherence to nutritional supplementation were variable.
Conclusion:
Bariatric surgery is a more effective long-term treatment for severe adolescent obesity compared to nutritional interventions, but careful monitoring for nutritional deficiencies is essential.
