Ethical aspects of bariatric surgery in children and adolescents

Obesity in children and adolescents is a global health challenge, the prevalence is increasing worldwide. Importantly, being overweight and obese are linked to a higher risk of death compared to being underweight. The objective of the present narrative review was to discuss the main ethical challenges and implications of bariatric surgery in childhood and adolescence. The surgical treatment of morbid obesity in children and adolescents is accepted and performed in most American and European hospitals. It is a therapeutic modality that can be considered in a selected group of adolescents with severe obesity who meet the requirements and recommendations, with the aim of improving their quality of life, reducing metabolic risks, associated diseases and early mortality. Bariatric surgery should not be indicated as an isolated procedure, but rather should be associated with a set of interventions aimed at strengthening permanent changes in lifestyle.