While the Geisinger study does
not support a collateral benefit of bariatric surgery in most children, it
clearly demonstrates a benefit in boys with a BMI of 85-94. Identifying an
opportunity to lower BMI in overweight boys is particularly important, given
there has been a significant increase in obesity prevalence among men and boys
over the last decade, while obesity rates have remained stable in girls and
women.
"The relationship between
parent and childhood obesity is likely attributable to a combination of genetic
and family environmental influences," says Christopher
D. Still, D.O., director of Geisinger's Obesity Institute. "We
believe that environmental influences, including parental modeling of eating
behavior, responsiveness to child signals, and availability of certain foods in
the home, may offer possible opportunities for intervention. Parental
obesity is one of the strongest risk factors for childhood obesity. The
prevalence of obesity among children living with bariatric surgery in our study
was 40 percent - twice the national average. Obese children are more likely to
suffer from physical and emotional ailments like high blood pressure, acid
reflux, knee and back pain, and low self-esteem.
"Children of parents who
undergo bariatric surgery are at a high risk of obesity. We may be able to
leverage bariatric surgery to help us target children at high risk of obesity
for a weight loss intervention," says Annemarie
Hirsch, Ph.D., research investigator from Geisinger's Center for Health
Research. "Specifically, because the adult family member is already
engaged in making lifestyle changes, this may present an opportunity to target
the parent in a family-based healthy lifestyle intervention."
Source: Medindia
