Hearing Their Voices: Exploring the Patient Narratives of Adolescent and Young Adults Who Have Undergone Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery—A Case Series

Main Article Content

Veronica R Johnson, MD Kayla A. Northam, RN, BSN Joice J. Smith, BA Faith Anne Newsome, BA Gricelda Gomez, MD, MPH Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA

Abstract

Background: Severe obesity in adolescence and young adulthood is undertreated which leads to obesity-related chronic diseases that progress into adulthood. Many organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) support early consideration of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) in the pediatric population to reduce morbidity and mortality. 


Methods: Five diverse patients who underwent metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) in the form of a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) contributed patient narratives that captured their life, with a focus on health related quality of life, before and after MBS.


Results: MBS leads to significant improvement in health status via decreased mortality and improved health related quality of life.


Conclusion: The perspectives of those patients who have undergone surgery in adolescence and young adulthood are not adequately captured in the medical literature. While the featured voices are not representative of all, their narratives may increase awareness and utilization of MBS in the treatment of severe obesity in the pediatric population. 

Keywords: adolescents, young adults, overweight, obesity, bariatric surgery, weight bias

Article Details

How to Cite
JOHNSON, Veronica R et al. Hearing Their Voices: Exploring the Patient Narratives of Adolescent and Young Adults Who Have Undergone Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery—A Case Series. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 9, n. 5, may 2021. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/2419>. Date accessed: 24 apr. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v9i5.2419.
Section
Case Reports

References

JA, Perrin EM, Armstrong SC. Prevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity in US Children, 1999-2016. Pediatrics. 2018;141(3).
2. Styne DM, Arslanian SA, Connor EL, et al. Pediatric Obesity-Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017;102(3):709-757.
3. Kumar S, Kelly AS. Review of Childhood Obesity: From Epidemiology, Etiology, and Comorbidities to Clinical Assessment and Treatment. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017;92(2):251-265.
4. Kelly AS, Barlow SE, Rao G, et al. Severe Obesity in Children and Adolescents: Identification, Associated Health Risks, and Treatment Approaches. Circulation. 2013;128(15):1689-1712.
5. Barlow SE. Expert committee recommendations regarding the prevention, assessment, and treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity: summary report. Pediatrics. 2007;120 Suppl 4:S164-192.
6. Ahmad N, Bawazir OA. Assessment and preparation of obese adolescents for bariatric surgery. Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2016;3(2):47-54.
7. Pratt JSA, Browne A, Browne NT, et al. ASMBS pediatric metabolic and bariatric surgery guidelines, 2018. Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. 2018;14(7):882-901.
8. Thenappan A, Nadler E. Bariatric Surgery in Children: Indications, Types, and Outcomes. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2019;21(6):24.
9. Childerhose JE, Alsamawi A, Mehta T, Smith JE, Woolford S, Tarini BA. Adolescent bariatric surgery: a systematic review of recommendation documents. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2017;13(10):1768-1779.
10. Armstrong SC, Bolling CF, Michalsky MP, Reichard KW. Pediatric Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: Evidence, Barriers, and Best Practices. Pediatrics. 2019;144(6).
11. Ruiz-Cota P, Bacardí-Gascón M, Jiménez-Cruz A. Long-term outcomes of metabolic and bariatric surgery in adolescents with severe obesity with a follow-up of at least 5 years: A systematic review. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019;15(1):133-144.
12. Bolling CF, Armstrong SC, Reichard KW, Michalsky MP. Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery for Pediatric Patients With Severe Obesity. Pediatrics. 2019;144(6).
13. Inge TH, Courcoulas AP, Jenkins TM, et al. Weight Loss and Health Status 3 Years after Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(2):113-123.
14. Nordin K, Brorsson AL, Ekbom K. Adolescents' experiences of obesity surgery: a qualitative study. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2018;14(8):1157-1162.
15. Zeller MH, Inge TH, Modi AC, et al. Severe obesity and comorbid condition impact on the weight-related quality of life of the adolescent patient. J Pediatr. 2015;166(3):651-659.e654.
16. Reilly JJ, Kelly J. Long-term impact of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence on morbidity and premature mortality in adulthood: systematic review. International Journal of Obesity. 2011;35(7):891-898.
17. Khattab A, Sperling MA. Obesity in Adolescents and Youth: The Case for and against Bariatric Surgery. J Pediatr. 2019;207:18-22.
18. Griggs CL, Perez NP, Jr., Goldstone RN, et al. National Trends in the Use of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Among Pediatric Patients With Severe Obesity. JAMA Pediatr. 2018;172(12):1191-1192.
19. Gudzune KA, Johnson VR, Bramante CT, Stanford FC. Geographic Availability of Physicians Certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine Relative to Obesity Prevalence. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2019;27(12):1958-1966.
20. Campoverde Reyes KJ, Misra M, Lee H, Stanford FC. Weight Loss Surgery Utilization in Patients Aged 14-25 With Severe Obesity Among Several Healthcare Institutions in the United States. Front Pediatr. 2018;6:251.
21. Perez NP, Westfal ML, Stapleton SM, et al. Beyond insurance: race-based disparities in the use of metabolic and bariatric surgery for the management of severe pediatric obesity. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020;16(3):414-419.
22. Maffazioli GD, Stanford FC, Campoverde Reyes KJ, et al. Comparing Outcomes of Two Types of Bariatric Surgery in an Adolescent Obese Population: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass vs. Sleeve Gastrectomy. Front Pediatr. 2016;4:78.
23. Stanford FC, Mushannen T, Cortez P, et al. Comparison of Short and Long-Term Outcomes of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Adolescents and Adults. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020;11:157.
24. Inge TH, Courcoulas AP, Jenkins TM, et al. Five-Year Outcomes of Gastric Bypass in Adolescents as Compared with Adults. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(22):2136-2145.
25. Shoar S, Mahmoudzadeh H, Naderan M, et al. Long-Term Outcome of Bariatric Surgery in Morbidly Obese Adolescents: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 950 Patients with a Minimum of 3 years Follow-Up. Obes Surg. 2017;27(12):3110-3117.
26. Toth AT, Gomez G, Shukla AP, et al. Weight Loss Medications in Young Adults after Bariatric Surgery for Weight Regain or Inadequate Weight Loss: A Multi-Center Study. Children (Basel). 2018;5(9).