Should Children Get Weight Loss Surgery?

What parents in their right minds would ever accept surgery on their obese child when there are any other alternatives? It is especially cruel and unthinking on their part if the obesity is caused by the poor nutrition, ignorance and lack of exercise practices by the parents themselves.

How many times have you seen families at the grocery or department store, where the parents are grossly fat, and tagging along with them are tragically fat children? Of course, in some severe glandular or other systemic problem that causes obesity, as an absolute last resort a child must undergo surgery. However, even then, by solving the problem earlier, the parents could have prevented the need for such drastic action.

When our kids were small, they had to spend time in hospitals several times because of injuries or severe illnesses. Just the act of putting them in a strange, frightening place beyond our control was a very traumatic experience for both the parents and child. I can only imagine the trauma involved in condemning a fat child, already unhappy about being different from other kids, to the surgeon's knife and other hospital terrors.

Before surgery becomes an option, parents should talk to the family physician and/or the appropriate specialist to discuss every possible alternative to surgery. It could be as simple as a strict diet combined with vigorous exercise. I know they're contrived TV productions, but those programs that begin with grossly fat contestants and follow them through weight-loss competition are good examples of establishing similar family routines.

Of course, any family plan determined to help obese children must be pre-approved and monitored by competent medical experts. However, in virtually every case, surgery should never be an option. The most effective options are establishing a sensible health, diet and exercise regimen; abiding concern for the health of the child, continuing parental love and just plain old-fashioned common sense.