how young is too young for WLS

 What do you think is an appropieate age for gastric bypass?

i would guess 18 legally but i truely believe that it is a personal choice and if someone feels they are ready then that is likely a good enough indication and the medical professionals will decide the rest.

Hi there

THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION LOL, BUT:

I don't think children should have weight loss surgery. I think they should be at least 18 and have tried some diets.
I keep typing and deleting. I can't really explain what I want to say, but I think we have to try as adults to get our kids to learn at an early age to eat healthy.
Many times children are chubby/fat before puberty and then lose weight, others are the oposit.
I was always an overweight child and my brothers were skinny, we all ate the same things. As adults we all had a weight problem
Interesting topic, lets see what others say

Take care

I think that decision would best be left up to the doctor of each individual. I have heard of some kids as young as 14-16 having it done (very rare and don't think it's been done in Canada) but then they probably had a serious health issue that necessitated the surgery being done. People younger than 18 still have some growing to do so unless it was a very serious condition being addressed I don't know if a doctor would approve it.

When a person is physically, mentally and emotionally ready to handle post-op life.  It doesn't always seem to have anything to do with age, as I'm sure we've all witnessed.

I may get flamed for this but I think that at 18 or even 30-35 people will have so many many years of malabsorption ahead of them, that I would be concerned.  I think that very young people would be better off having a lap band or vsg.  This came to me after reading the Melting Mama thread that Karen provided to us. (thanks Karen).  Although long term health issues are not necessarily going to happen, there does appear to be a link, quite possibly caused by malabsorption.   Unfortunately, we may end up seeing something similar is Lap Band or VSG as well, but I don't know of anything that has been documented as of now.

There are alot of things going on with the body mentally and physically when you are younger and you wouldnt want to cause an even bigger issue with the develpment of your body by limiting its absorbtion of nutrients needed to keep it growing efficiently.

That said I think that a medical professional specializing in weight issues is the best person to decide with them.

 
I'm not so concerned about age as I would be about comorbidities.  If they have a positive and strong support system, I don't see why a 15 year old with 50 BMI and diabetes would be less qualified to "handle it" than a 35 year old with 50 BMI and diabetes.

I'm trying to think of suitable analogies, but my friend works in a kid's burn unit in NY. She grafts skin back onto them. There are kids out there dealing with leukemia and bombardment of chemotherapy and those who have lost limbs or disabled in other ways. My best childhood friend's youngest son has primordial dwarfism and goes in for surgery several times a year.

I think kids can very much be trusted to deal with the stress and changes, sometimes even moreso than adults. I just don't like the thought of "protecting a child" by denying them the same access to life-changing/saving treatments as we have.

Hi Sarah!

I was 20 when I had RNY Gastric Bypass.
Sometimes when I tell people I get the why so young comment. I agree that maybe I didn't try every diet out there that could have helped me.. but I WAS 20 with constant back and hip pain, on the verge of diabetes and on the verge of much more.

I was not going to sit there anymore and just wait for the problems due to my wieght to be handed to me. My co-morbs could only really include depression, back pain, social issues etc.. but it was enough for OHIP to see the future I was facing.

I will tell you that I feel (and have been told) I am mature for my age. I have lived on my own, supported myself and habits since I was 18 and was the oldest of my brothers and sisters. I knew the responsibilities ahead of me and I now know what I have to watch to make sure that a surgery I got to help me with my weight loss doesn't bite me in the butt due to not paying attention as I age.

It's something you definately have to think about and know what your future holds. I live a better life as a 22 year old now then I know I would have if I had not gotten surgery.

I think support is also a major thing if living at home as a younger person having such a life changing surgery. I lived by myself, but still received great support when visiting home. It helped a great deal!

 hey there! thanks for the information, could i possibly email you??
[email protected]
i just have some questions, i'm in the early stage right now, my doctor sent my referral in 3 weeks ago, im going to be going to guelph.
Yea, ill be 20 this year.. constant back, and knee pain. also i have polycystic ovarian syndrome, and depression.
PCOS-polycystic ovarian syndrome makes itreally hard for me to lose weight, and im depressed because of my weight, but also my medication alsomakes my weight increase, which doesn't make sence does it... hahaha. anyways, ive tried multiple diets/programs, and my family has spend lots of money, we're talking thousands on programs. but i can't seem to lose the weight!
So this is my last resort! My doctor told me a month ago that i have a lot of fat in my liver, which can resulttofatty liver disease, and if i don't lose the weight, my liver will end up lilke a alcholics. 
which i DONT want, cause i kinda need my liver to live.. you know? ahah.
i'm emotionally/physcially ready for a change in my life, i've been overweight for over 5 years now, and i'm done with it!
i want this so bad, but i guess i'm just scared that i will be turned down...
OHIP told me on the phone that they will cover it
like, i'm 260, 5 ft 6in. BMI of 42. 
i just want to be healthy and happy. i know its not something that happens overnight.. and i'm ready for this! bring it on! haha
what do you think?