Liposuction is No Solution to Childhood Obesity
Filed in archive Diagnostics , Opinion , Treatment on April 10, 2007
Teenagers are now seeking surgical options to lose weight. In lieu of this, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) warns teenagers that liposuction and tummy tucks are inappropriate procedures for weight loss.
According to a recent editorial in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® (PRS) - the official medical journal of the ASPS - there is no scientific evidence supporting the use of body contouring procedures to fight childhood obesity.
...the use of liposuction to improve the health status of an obese individual, regardless of age, is not currently supported by scientific evidence.
...the use of liposuction does not provide the same health benefits as diet-induced weight loss in obese people.
According to David Sarwer, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, Center for Human Appearance, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and lead author of the PRS editorial:
"There is no doubt some teenagers may physically and psychologically benefit from having plastic surgery. For example, ear surgery or nose reshaping may significantly improve a teenager's self-esteem and body image. The desire to be thin, no matter how strong, does not justify the use of body contouring procedures to treat childhood obesity when there is no data supporting their effectiveness."
According to ASPS President Roxanne Guy, MD:
"The teenage years can be extremely tough for kids who are teased about their weight; however, liposuction and tummy tucks are not the answer. My message to young kids - proper diet and exercise are still the best ways to slim down.
Liposuction can be ideal for patients who have reached physical maturity, are at or near their ideal body weight, and have stubborn, localized deposits of fat they want removed. The best candidates for a tummy tuck are those bothered by a large fat deposit or a loss of skin elasticity resulting in loose abdominal skin that won't respond to diet or exercise."
Well I can still understand if mature (older) men and women would resort to liposuction and tummy tucks for body contouring. But teenagers?! There is just so much stuff ahead of them to worry about being fat. Besides, teenage years are the best time as any to engage into sports and other form of exercise to manage their body weight.
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons
...the use of liposuction does not provide the same health benefits as diet-induced weight loss in obese people.
Tags: child obesity liposuction tummy tucks weight loss childhood childhood+obesity
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Response from:
Liposuction
(05/18/07 6:42am)
Although it may not be suitable for kids - I believe it is more than adequate procedure for a teenager to participate in.
Response from:
mark
(09/29/07 1:32pm)
Good point. What differentiates "childhood obesity" from regular obesity? It isn't really described what the dividing line is between adults and kids, in context of the topic at least. Is it completing puberty and being fully grown physically (maybe 15-20), is it being 18 , or when you no longer will grow anymore and start to age which can be as old as 25.
A 16 year old is much different than a 5 year old and older teenagers are much more like adults physically and psychologically than young children and deal with different issues than young children.
In any case it's pretty clear liposuction is not a good idea as a first-line treatment for obesity or a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. But this is true for anyone, not just children. As someone who had a friend as a teenager who dealt with these issues their entire life, I find it a little demeaning to assume young people interested in procedures like liposuction or stomach stapling wouldn't already have tried dieting and exercise, or that their physicians wouldn't explain to them what liposuction can or can't do.
A 16 year old is much different than a 5 year old and older teenagers are much more like adults physically and psychologically than young children and deal with different issues than young children.
In any case it's pretty clear liposuction is not a good idea as a first-line treatment for obesity or a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. But this is true for anyone, not just children. As someone who had a friend as a teenager who dealt with these issues their entire life, I find it a little demeaning to assume young people interested in procedures like liposuction or stomach stapling wouldn't already have tried dieting and exercise, or that their physicians wouldn't explain to them what liposuction can or can't do.
Response from:
linda
(05/10/08 4:45pm)
Interesting read! I think the best way to start promoting healthy eating in children is removing sweets and sodas from schools! Five to ten (depending on if the children are eating both breakfast and lunch) are eaten at school every week. Children will hopefully pick up healthier eating habits this way for the rest of their lives, also! You can find some additional interesting reading over at the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau page on childhood obesity.
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