The Problem
The epidemic of obesity that is striking American adults is also affecting their children. Currently 15 percent of children are considered obese and 5 percent are considered morbidly obese - more than 100lbs overweight.

The increased incidence of childhood obesity has also caused an increase in medical conditions previously thought to only afflict adults, such as type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, hypertension and high cholesterol.

The social ramifications of childhood obesity are striking. In a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, obese children rate their quality of life with scores on the same level as young patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer.

Eighty percent of obese adolescents will become obese adults, and adolescents that are greater than 100lbs overweight will almost invariably remain obese. In one large study, diet and exercise resulted in a maintained weight loss in only one out of twenty people over a two-year period of time.


The Cause
Causes for the increased incidence of obesity in children are complex. On a simple level, obesity occurs when more calories are eaten than are used in physical activities. Although many people like to believe that specific genetic factors correlate with weight. In fact, environmental causes are the overwhelming cause of obesity. The combination of easy access to high-calorie, inexpensive and good-tasting foods, combined with a decrease in physical activity, translates into progressive weight gain.


The Treatment
Diet and exercise are the cornerstones of preventing obesity. All obese children should undergo a supervised diet with their pediatrician that includes behavioral modification. Unfortunately, there is a high failure rate with this approach.

Weight loss surgery in adolescents can tremendously improve quality of life when performed by experienced minimally invasive bariatric surgeons involved with a specially designed multidisciplinary program. The ability to end severe social isolation while preventing numerous medical problems in adulthood justifies a surgical treatment in many severely obese teenagers.

The N.E.W. Program headquartered in Newport Beach. CA offers a dedicated Adolescent Obesity Program which includes one-to-one counseling for the patient and family counseling for the entire family. This program is structured to overcome any behavioral problems which may have contributed to early obesity and prepare the adolescent for social changes that may occur after surgery for weight loss.