2072-P: Metabolic Bariatric Surgery in Korean Adolescents with Severe Obesity

Introduction and Objective: Severe obesity in adolescents leads to rapid deterioration of β-cell function and early cardiometabolic risk. Evidence for metabolic bariatric surgery in Asian youth, a population with distinct visceral adiposity and early insulin resistance, remains scarce. Methods: We evaluated postoperative metabolic outcomes from an ongoing clinical cohort of Korean adolescents (ages 14-18) with severe obesity or Type 2 diabetes (T2D) who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Weight, BMI, HbA1c, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, ALT, and safety outcomes were assessed from baseline to 2-8 months postoperatively. Data are presented as median and range for the five patients. Results: Median weight loss reached -28 kg (range -17 to -39 kg), corresponding to a median 24% reduction in baseline body weight. HbA1c improved markedly in adolescents with T2D, decreasing from a baseline of 9.4-12.2% to 5.2-6.0% postoperatively. Non-diabetic adolescents achieved the greatest relative weight reduction (up to 39 kg). HOMA-IR and ALT declined across all patients, indicating improved insulin sensitivity and hepatic steatosis. No major postoperative complications, readmissions, or nutritional deficiencies were observed during follow-up. Conclusion: In this underrepresented population of Asian adolescents, metabolic bariatric surgery produced rapid and clinically meaningful improvements in body weight, glycemic control, and hepatic biomarkers. These preliminary cohort data support metabolic surgery as a potentially effective therapeutic option for refractory severe obesity or T2D in Asian youth. Larger longitudinal studies are warranted to define long-term metabolic durability in this population. Disclosure H. Jeong: None. H. Lee: None. Funding Soonchunhyang Research fund