21 Feb 2018

Bariatric surgery in adolescents reduces heart disease risk factors

Erica Adams

“Adolescents with severe obesity who had bariatric surgery showed significant improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to the most recent “Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery” (Teen-LABS) study, published by Pediatrics.”

According to the report, one-third of the participants in the study had three or more risk factors that contribute to heart disease. Three years after the study, only 5% of participants have three or more risk factors. The conclusion was young people with severe obesity reduced their propensity toward heart disease significantly through bariatric surgery.

The study showed that surgical intervention during adolescence may be beneficial later in life as it reduces heart disease risk factors, and may lower risks for atherosclerosis, stroke, heart failure, and diabetes.

The Teen-LABS clinical study was sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. The study is currently ongoing at various locations around the United States. The most recent publication included 242 adolescents and looked at

1. Inflammation
2. Blood pressure
3. Glucose homeostasis
4. Lipids

According to the study, a significant number of patients reduced their risk factors because of the surgery. More specifically, younger patients have more positive results regarding dyslipidemia and female patients had more positive improvements in blood pressure.