Dr. Phil has called attention to it, vividly, but some teens are getting the treatment of choice for those 100# or more overweight–gastric surgery, gastric bypass, and stomach stapling.

The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center analyzed 79 referrals for teen surgery: the average age and BMI is 16 years and 54 kg/m2, for boys and 17 years and 51 kg/m2 for girls. That’s over 100# overweight.

BMI for kids means your BMI is in the 85th% tile or greater. Under age 7, it’s a BMI of 17. Age 7-15, it’s age plus 10. Calculate your BMI here.

Essential for these teens will be a Post-Ops program–in which patients learn to avoid weight re-gain (common in 20% of adults), and gain the skills in cooking, shopping, eating in and eating out, mind-body control and fitness that they didn’t have pre-op.

Want to avoid surgery? Create lifestyle change with a private program.