Gastric Bands - Targeting Teens

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The long term benefits and safety of gastric bands still have yet to be determined but, it seems as though there is now a push to allow for teens, as young as 14, to be able to get the band.

A recent whistle blower, Dr. Neelu Pal, was fired from her job. She was calling patients and warning them of the dangers she had witnessed. She is claiming that there is a lack of aftercare provided, and she witnessed medical forms, prior to surgery, that were inaccurate or, incomplete. She has since filed a lawsuit. 

With the problems and complications that already come with lap bands placed in adults, I am surprised to see a push for this procedure to be used on teens. There are a handful of teens that were given the band by discretion of their doctors. 

In more than one in five teens in another study, Inge noted a high rate of "symmetric pouch dilation" -- a complication in which the small pouch created at the top of the stomach by the band gets bigger, allowing patients to consume more food.

Although, the procedure is considered to be relatively safe, I'm not convinced this is the best way for anyone to lose weight.