Watch for poor bone health in teens after bariatric surgery, doctors say
Both Roux-en-Y bypass or sleeve gastrectomy were associated with reduced bone mineral density.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are “highly effective” and safe in under-18s with class II or III obesity but can lead to poorer bone health outcomes, a review shows.
The loss of bone mineral density (BMD) in paediatric patients undergoing either weight loss procedure may increase the risk of osteomalacia and fractures, according to UK doctors.
“It is crucial to monitor and support bone health through appropriate nutritional supplementation and judicious follow-up,” they wrote in eClinicalMedicine.
The Imperial College London-led team analysed data from nearly 700 paediatric patients (mean age 17) across 12 studies to determine the impact of bariatric surgery on bone health.
