Weight Loss Surgery for Western Massachusetts Teens
If your adolescent child is struggling with obesity, you’re not alone. Many families throughout western Massachusetts try to help their children lose weight but can’t achieve lasting success through changes to diet and exercise alone. It is difficult for people with obesity to lose weight and keep it off long term solely through lifestyle changes. They will likely need specialized care in order to get to a healthy weight.
The experts at Baystate Health are here to provide the care your teen or young adult needs. Our adolescent bariatric (weight loss) surgery program uses minimally invasive surgery to help reduce your child’s weight and provide strategies to improve their health going forward.
Meet the Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Team
Why Baystate Health for Adolescent Bariatric Surgery?
Our adolescent bariatric surgery program is the only one of its kind in western Massachusetts. Having a weight loss program close to home at Baystate Children’s Specialty Center can be a critical factor in their continued success, since they will need to attend regular appointments with their surgical and support team even after their procedure. Providing those appointments and support systems in an area that’s close to home, school, and work makes it easier for busy families like yours to stay involved in the program.
Our adolescent weight loss surgeons work closely with our adult bariatric surgery team to ensure adolescent patients will have a smooth, successful transition when it’s time for them to move from adolescent care to adult care.
Who Qualifies for Adolescent Weight Loss Surgery?
Although bariatric surgery is a great option for many patients, it’s not right for everyone. To qualify, you must:
- Be between the ages of 15 and 20
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher with at least one significant condition related to their obesity (such as Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, etc.) -OR- a BMI of at least 40 with or without any other conditions. Use this calculator to determine BMI.
- Have tried and failed to lose or maintain weight
As part of participation in our weight loss surgery program, you must:
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Attend weight loss support group meetings on a regular basis
- Be tested to check for any existing diseases caused by or related to obesity and to ensure you're healthy enough for surgery
- Complete an in-depth program that involves regular visits with a surgeon, dietitian, and a behavioral health specialist
- Maintain or lose weight before surgery
You might not be a good candidate for bariatric surgery if you have certain obesity syndromes, certain gastrointestinal anomalies, or severe developmental delays.
Get Answers to Your Questions About Pediatric Bariatric Surgery
We want to make sure your adolescent child gets the care they need to address their obesity and help them achieve a healthy weight. To start the weight loss surgery journey, watch our online educational seminar video. After the video, you’ll receive an application and health questionnaire to fill out. Once our team receives the application and questionnaire, someone will be in touch to schedule your first visit and answer questions.