Weight loss surgery may harm adolescents' bones: Study

In a prospective study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, imaging tests revealed that Sleeve gastrectomy or SG decreases strength and bone mineral density of the lumbar spine in adolescents and young adults.

SG, where about 80% of the stomach is removed, is effective for treating obesity and its complications, but it has been associated with bone loss in adolescents.

In the 12-month prospective nonrandomized study, 29 adolescents/young adults with obesity underwent SG and 30 were followed without surgery. At baseline and 12 months, participants underwent computed tomography of the lumbar spine for bone assessments and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and thigh for body composition assessments.

Participants in the SG group lost an average of 34.3 kg (75.6 lbs) 12 months after surgery, whereas weight was unchanged in controls. There were significant reductions in abdominal fat tissue and thigh muscle in the SG group compared with controls. Also, bone strength and bone mineral density decreased in the SG group compared with controls. Reductions in bone strength and bone mineral density were associated with reductions in body mass index, abdominal fat tissue, and muscle.

“Weight loss surgery is very effective in treating obesity and obesity-associated comorbidities in adolescents and young adults with obesity; however, it can cause loss of bone density and strength. We hope that our study raises awareness of the importance of bone health after weight loss surgery, so physicians can make sure that children eat a healthy diet with enough calcium and vitamin D and engage in weight-bearing activity to build up muscle mass, which is good for bones,” said corresponding author Miriam A. Bredella, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital.

Reference:

Biomechanical CT to assess bone after sleeve gastrectomy in adolescents with obesity: a prospective longitudinal study,Journal of Bone and Mineral Research,DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4784