Bariatric surgery, childhood obesity topic on Oprah

HOUSTON -- (February 4, 2008) -- Dr. Mary Brandt, who is director of the Bariatric Surgery program at Texas Children's Hospital and a professor of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, discussed specifics of bariatric surgery as well as the epidemic of childhood obesity on Oprah's Feb. 4 show.

Dr. Brandt talked about the potentially life-threatening medical complications of obesity including diabetes, psuedotumor cerebri (which can lead to blindness), and sleep apnea, as well as other weight-related diseases. These complications are normally seen in adults, but as more young people are becoming obese, they are now being seen in children and teens as well.

Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital are one of four groups participating in Teen-LABS (Teen - Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery), an NIH-funded study which focuses on the health benefits and risks of weight loss surgery in teens. Since for adults most of the diseases associated with obesity vastly improve or disappear after the surgery, it is likely that teenagers who have these serious complications of obesity will most likely benefit from early intervention as well. This important question is what is being asked by the Teen-LABS study.

For more information on the Teen-LABS study call 1-866-645-0141. To contact Texas Children's Hospital call 832-822-4868 or 832-822-3872.

For childhood obesity information, bariatric surgery for adults, or other ways to help control weight in children visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention childhood obesity site.