Severe obesity among adolescent shows a worrisome trend in regard of its increasing prevalence and poses a great challenge for treatment. Conservative measures have modest effects on weight loss, usually fail in achieving a sustainable weight loss and resolution of comorbidities. This has led to greater utilization of bariatric surgery (BS) that offers a fast reduction in body mass index (BMI) with little perioperative complications. Despite the increasing utilization of BS, data is still insufficient, regarding their long-term outcome in adolescents. We review short and long-term effects of bariatric surgery and their implications on bone health and nutritional deficiencies in adolescents. In addition, we discuss possible pharmaceutical alternatives.
BS results in a substantial weight loss of roughly 37% in the first-year post-operation and is superior to conservative measures in resolution of metabolic comorbidities. BS significantly improves health-related quality of life. Longer follow up, shows weight regain in 50% of patients. Furthermore, reduced bone mass and nutritional deficiencies were reported in up to 90% of patients. Most recently, alternative to BS became more relevant with approval of GLP-1 analogues use in adolescents. GLP-1 analogues are potent enough to induce moderate clinically meaningful weight loss and improvement of metabolic component. Key Messages: We conclude that obese adolescents without major obesity related complications may benefit from pharmacological interventions with lifestyle modification. We advise considering BS as treatment approach in adolescents with severe obesity and major obesity related complications with proper pre-operative preparation and post operative follow up in excellence centers.

S. Karger AG, Basel.

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