Children under the age of 18 may now undergo weight-loss surgery in Sweden. In certain cases children as young as 13 will go under the knife!
There is no disease in the stomachs or intestines, which surgeons cut away from the children. They are healthy organs, that are being surgically removed. There’s something extremely sick in our society when methods this radical and extreme are required for children to maintain their weight.
The risks of long-term side effects are great. In adults who undergo weight-loss surgery the need for medical treatment increases long term. We know very little about the long-term consequences for children.
- MailOnline: As more teenagers have weight-loss surgery, a horrifying insight into the terrible price they pay as they grow up
- ABCNews: Obese Kids Going Under the Knife
The ethically bizarre in this is that the healthcare system rarely provides the best lifestyle treatment before resorting to major surgery.
A Swedish government expert committee recently concluded that advice on a low-carb diet provides more weight loss and better health markers than current calorie-obsessed advice does. At least as long as the advice is followed. Several new studies show that a low-carb diet also works better for children and adolescents.
Failing to provide support and advice on the most effective lifestyle therapy, before resorting to irreversible major surgery for children? That should be considered malpractice.