The prevalence of morbid obesity among adults and adolescents has risen dramatically over the last several decades. While other approaches have failed, bariatric surgery has become an increasingly popular treatment option for the significant and sustained weight loss of morbidly obese individuals. With a greater than ten-fold increase in adult procedures over the last decade, adolescent bariatric surgeries have also increased five-fold in the U.S. between 1997 and 2003. Research in adult bariatric populations demonstrates improvements in related co-morbidities. However, bariatric surgery and subsequent weight loss is associated with accelerated rates of bone loss, as measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). This raises public health concerns over bone loss leading to osteoporosis and fracture. Given these concerns, it is important to understand how the physiological adaptation of bone applies to weight loss.
In addition, little is also known about the effects of bariatric surgery on skeletal health parameters in youth. Given that adolescence is a critical time for development of a strong skeleton, determining the physiological implications of this procedure during this critical time of growth is important.
We are currently conducting two studies in the LMH in collaboration with bariatric surgeons at the University of Minnesota Weight Loss Surgery Center and also the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic. If you are interested in further information, please contact Lesley Scibora at scibo002@umn.edu.
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