Gastric bands are 'last resort' for obese children

Controversial stomach surgery for obese teenagers has been hailed as a major success by American doctors.

New York University, which conducted the first trials of gastric bands in teenagers, said they lost on average 50 per cent of their excess weight.

Read more ...

• Fat people 'feed up for free obesity op'

However, British experts have criticised the research. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence said surgery should only be a last resort.

One British teenager who took part in the US trial, Jack Glassett, who weighed 21 stone, has lost four stone. "I knew I was eating myself to death but couldn't stop," Jack said.

A spokesman for Nice said: "These results do not change our guidance.

"For anyone, adult or teenager, surgery is a last resort, only to be considered after diet, lifestyle changes and drug treatments. This is a high risk procedure."

However, the teenager's parents claim the operation saved their son's life. "We couldn't wait for Jack to have the operation here. He was struggling to breathe," said his mother Karen.

Experts also today warned giving the operation to teenagers could result in them simply regaining weight.

"The operation is only 50 per cent of the deal," said Rory Hammacott of the British Obesity Surgery Patients Association, which claims that now the NHS has raised the qualifying limit for free gastric operations from a body mass index above 35 to 45, patients are piling on the extra pounds by gorging on cakes.