New Delhi: A 13-year-old boy from Delhi weighing around 186 kg has undergone bariatric surgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after severe obesity began affecting his breathing, sleep, mobility and joints.
Following a comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team, the boy underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy on Aug 13. Since surgery, he has lost more than 20 kg, with his family reporting improvements in breathing, snoring, sleep quality, mobility and joint discomfort.
By the time he was evaluated, he was experiencing breathlessness, joint pain, backache, increased snoring and sleep apnoea, besides anger-related behavioural issues, according to the hospital. Both his parents had struggled with obesity and subsequently underwent bariatric surgery, doctors said, pointing to a possible familial or genetic contribution alongside environmental and lifestyle factors. Bariatric surgery in children and adolescents requires careful patient selection, comprehensive medical and nutritional evaluation, parental involvement and long-term multidisciplinary follow-up, according to doctors.
The boy had progressively gained weight over the years despite attempts at dietary restriction and lifestyle modification. He also had a family history of obesity. Dr Tarun Mittal, consultant, department of laparoscopic, laser & general surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, led the surgical care.