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.
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