Bariatric Surgery :: Nationwide Children's Hospital

Bariatric Surgery Information Sessions

These free sessions provide an overview of the bariatric surgery process, the three types of weight loss surgery available for teens and the benefits, risks, advantages and disadvantages of each.
 

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Feeding Your Kids Program

A FREE text and email-based program that addresses real-life challenges and helps you make small changes that add up to a big result - a lifetime of healthy eating behaviors!

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U.S.News & World Report's Top Doctors

Dr. Marc Michalsky and Dr. Steven Teich were recently nominated by their peers and appear in the "Top Doctors" list.

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Pediatrics Obesity Supplement

Pediatric Obesity: Practical Applications and Strategies From Primary to Tertiary Care is a supplement released by Pediatrics®, the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in collaboration with Nationwide Children's Hospital and 15 other children’s hospitals about their efforts to address obesity in children.

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Bariatric Surgery Information Presentation

Learn about the three types of weight loss surgery options available to combat morbid obesity and the risks, advantages, and disadvantages of each.
 
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Hidden Risks of Pediatric Obesity Articles

Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition

The center offers families a comprehensive approach to weight management and has programs for both the prevention and treatment of overweight children.

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Bariatric Surgery

Weight loss surgery is not for all overweight people. It offers an option for people who have not been able to maintain weight loss and control their health through dieting alone. To qualify for weight loss surgery, patients must:

  • Be at least 100 pounds over their ideal body weight (BMI greater than 40 kg/M2 or BMI greater than 35 kg/M2 with a medical problem)
  • Have documented attempts to lose weight by following a medically-supervised diet for at least six months
  • Have a complete medical and psychological evaluation in our clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Bariatric Surgery results in a major change in lifestyle.

To maintain weight loss after surgery, it is very important for you to know that you will still have to exercise and limit food amounts. And you will need to change the types of foods that you eat every day.

How much weight will you lose?

On average, people steadily lose one to two pounds per week. This means you will loose 50-100 pounds or more in a year. The amount of weight loss and the ability to keep it off depends on how well you follow the diet and exercise program after weight loss surgery.

It’s a long process.

Leading up to surgery, a complete evaluation will be needed. This includes a physical exam, nutritional workup, psychological tests, and in many cases, other medical tests and consults. After the surgery, patients must have regular visits during the first 12 months after bariatric surgery. In addition, you will continue to be seen at Children’s Hospital well after your procedure.

Bariatric Surgery Information Sessions

These free sessions provide an overview of the bariatric surgery process, the three types of weight loss surgery available for teens to combat obesity and the benefits, risks, advantages and disadvantages of each. Learn more about the next bariatric surgery information session.

Upcoming Info Session Dates:

Clicking the dates below will take you to the Education Courses Portal. You can use the keyword search "bariatric" to find the Bariatric Surgery Information Sessions that are currently available for registration.

Taylor shares her journey through gastric sleeve surgery (weight loss surgery) and how it has helped her lead a healthier life.

Weight Loss Surgery Options

At Nationwide Children’s, three types of bariatric surgery are offered: Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, and Adjustable Gastric Band (currently, based on FDA regulations, patients must be at least 18 years old to have laparoscopic adjustable band surgery). All of these surgeries cause a restriction in the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, so patients feel full faster. The weight loss for any surgery depends on how well patients follow the recommended nutrition and exercise program.

Laparoscopic Surgery vs. Open Surgery

Most patients are candidates for laparoscopic surgery. In this type of surgery, small incisions are made in the stomach, through which small, thin instruments, including a telescope and camera, are inserted. The camera and telescope send pictures of the internal organs and surgical instruments onto a TV screen. Laparoscopic surgery reduces the pain and complications after surgery since the incisions are so small.

For medical reasons, though, some patients may need an open surgery. If this is needed, the surgeon makes one larger incision in the stomach to access the organs. The surgeon will explain each type of surgery and determine which type of surgery is best for each patient.

Physician Practice Tool

This bariatric surgery practice tool includes information on evaluation, management and outcomes.

Teen-LABS Research Study

Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) Study

Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of only five institutions nationally to join a multi-institution clinical research study to understand the benefits and risks of bariatric surgery in adolescents. Learn more.

Teen Bariatric Surgery is a Commitment

In a May 2011 article, "Surgery Is No Quick Fix for Obese Teens," Dr. Marc Michalsky explains teen weight loss surgery is not a comestic procedure and is generally not performed on teens until they have gone through puberty. The article also follows patients and discusses their outcomes along with how life is changed after bariatric surgery.

Megan's Story

Photo of Weight Loss Surgery Patient Megan Muncy

A Time to Celebrate

Diagnosed with extreme obesity, 14-year-old Megan Muncy had weight loss surgery and is enrolled in the Center for Healthy Weight & Nutrition.

February 2012: Watch the latest video of Megan to see how she's doing.

Video: At age 16, see Megan's transformation two years after surgery

Before and After Photos: Megan and other weight loss surgery patients

Read about Megan before and after her weight loss surgery.

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