Ten-Year Outcomes after Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents

This correspondence presents 10 year outcomes from the Teen-LABS study, a prospective multicenter observational cohort study evaluating bariatric surgery in adolescents (13–19 years old). Among 260 participants (161 gastric bypass, 99 sleeve gastrectomy), the mean BMI decreased significantly by 20.0% (95% CI,  22.9 to  17.1) at 10 years, with similar results for both procedures. Latent class analysis identified four distinct BMI trajectories, with greater early weight loss predicting better long term outcomes. Remission rates for obesity related conditions were durable: 55% for type 2 diabetes, 57% for hypertension, and 54% for dyslipidemia exceeding rates reported in adults. Strengths include high cohort retention (94%), but limitations include the observational design and lack of a nonsurgical control group. The findings support bariatric surgery as an effective long-term intervention for severe adolescent obesity, though further research comparing surgical and emerging medical therapies is needed.

This correspondence presents 10 year outcomes from the Teen-LABS study, a prospective multicenter observational cohort study evaluating bariatric surgery in adolescents (13–19 years old). Among 260 participants (161 gastric bypass, 99 sleeve gastrectomy), the mean BMI decreased significantly by 20.0% (95% CI,  22.9 to  17.1) at 10 years, with similar results for both procedures. Latent class analysis identified four distinct BMI trajectories, with greater early weight loss predicting better long term outcomes. Remission rates for obesity related conditions were durable: 55% for type 2 diabetes, 57% for hypertension, and 54% for dyslipidemia exceeding rates reported in adults. Strengths include high cohort retention (94%), but limitations include the observational design and lack of a nonsurgical control group. The findings support bariatric surgery as an effective long-term intervention for severe adolescent obesity, though further research comparing surgical and emerging medical therapies is needed.