I know a young man who is 17 years of age and is obesse, he has to go at least 300 lbs. I am afraid that if he doesnt have this surgery or do something else with his weight that he will not live a full life. My wife had this surgery less then one year ago she has lost 115 lbs, she is no longer a diabetic and no longer has sleep apnea, she no longer takes many of her perscriptions because she no longer needs them.we walk 6 miles a day and work out. she feels fantastic and thinks what she did was wonderful and would recomend it to anyone!

This reminds me of this one girl I saw on TLC "I'm too young to be so fat" a few days ago. This girl is 13 years old and weighs 350 pounds. This girl was whining non-stop that she wanted lipo. The only thing standing in her way was her anemia(the doctor won't perform lipo on her b/c if he performs it on her while she's anemic, her immune system will shut down.), she needs to take iron pills and eat more vegetables and some red meat. When she is given the steak and salad she acts like it's poison. She doesn't take her supplements either, unless her mother nags her. Most of the time, you see the whiny little fat brat whine about why she is so fat while she stuffs her face. She wonders why "God-made-her-this-way" and "God-punishes-bad-people". She is such a shallow self-centered stereotypical BRAT. She reminds me of those few ornery people(especially Vincinte) from TLC's Brookhaven Obesity Clinic.

I was an obese teenager. And in spite of a lifetime of diets - losing and gaining all the while - I am an obese adult. I don't think that story is unique, in fact I think its a plague. I had gastric bypass surgery last October and my only regret is that I didn't have it sooner. At age 12 I was 5 feet tall and weighed well over 200 pounds. I was attending Weight Watchers at that age - the only young person in the class - but nothing helped for any length of time. Subsequently I have spent a lifetime of struggle, emotionally and physically. My self-esteem, my enjoyment of life, my health and well-being have all been damaged along the way. Now on the verge of turning 50 years old - I was finally able to make a permanent change with surgery. I wish it had been an option when I was young. I think it's even more difficult to lose weight if you have been overweight from a young age. It's possible that I never learned good habits, but I don't think it was for lack of me trying or my mom trying. My 3 siblings have no weight problems, never have. Isn't it also possible that the mechanism that tells a person they are full doesn't work (never worked? stopped working?) in some people due to a physical, emotional, or unknown disconnect? Whatever the reason - I've never been able to maintain a weight loss for more than a year. And I've done ALL the diets from WW to Optifast to "boot camp" and everything in between. Again, not a unique story just a frustrating one. Dr. Oz's distaste for young people having this surgery seems a bit short-sighted to me. He cites the fact that no one knows what the consequences may be 20 years down the road... ability to have children, for example. But we do know what 20 or more additional years of obesity will do to a person. Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, back/knee/joint problems, fertility problems, dangerous pregnancies, sleep apnea, etc. plus all the resulting consequences AND costs of all that. Additionally there is the host of ongoing and compounded emotional issues. Isn't Dr. Oz's concern that there are unknowns down the road true for all "new" life-saving or life-changing procedures until they become accepted and considered the norm? Case in point might be that young football player, Kevin Everett, you had on the show recently. As I recall the cold therapy the doctor administered was controversial and not the norm. But that treatment is now credited for the miracle that this man can now walk. Are they worried about 20 years down the road? In addition, Dr. Oz doesn't seem to be taking into account that parents have been making serious (and often unwise) decisions about weight loss for their kids for many, many years. When I was young I saw kids around me whose parents sent them weight loss boot camps (some lost weight, most lost and then gained it all back plus), put them on diet pills (mostly over-the-counter and meant for adults), hounded them and berated them, while still others had their jaws wired shut!! Was that the way to go? Well, since we have the increased obesity problem we have - obviously not. Today, parents are making these surgery decisions for their children with the assistance of physicians. Like with any surgery there must be an individual analysis of costs, benefits and risk. I have no doubt that these all weigh heavily on the minds of the parents and the doctors. There will always be people who can lose weight on their own, or with the assistance of a diet, and keep it off. But it is abundantly clear that there are many millions more who cannot. Surgery is not everyone's answer, teen or adult, but dismissing it as an answer for anyone, teen or adult, is an equally flawed view.

Watching this show today, I did feel the pain of the overweight teens, although I do not agree with the 'quick fix' solution. I am not overweight, although I did gain - then work extremely hard to lose - 80lbs and 50lbs with my 2 pregnancies. When the pediatric doctor commented on the 4 year old who came to her office weighing 100+ lbs, I wished I was in the audience because I personally feel that this is a case of child abuse. Just as under-nourishing your child is abuse, and would be a justified reason for removing the child from the home as a safety issue, so too, in my opinion, are countless cases of children and toddlers who are obese. Our girls are 4 and 2 years old and my husband and I are 100% responsible for everything they eat. We buy the groceries. We prepare the meals and snacks. And we responsible for giving them healthy and balanced nutrition. No one else can be responsible for their health and well-being at this stage in their lives, except for us. Therefore, I feel that the young children out there who are obese have parents/guardians who are not taking proper care when nourishing their children. Yes, I'm sure there will be a lot of angry comments about this point, but I also know many parents who feel the same way as I do. I believe that it is a parent's responsibility to take the upmost care with their children, including their overall health and nutrition. When will society wake up and acknowledge that these obese kids are victims of abuse?

It's unfortunate that healthy eating habits were not instilled into these young people at an early age. Had they been taught the importance of daily exercise and eating right, they would not be unhealthy and obese. I think parents who teach their children unhealthy eating habits are doing them a disservice and setting them up for heartache. Surgery is NOT the answer. The young gal who was in Seventeen and lost her weight the correct way, is an inspiration to people of all ages.

It sounds like both procedures are just an intermal version of a "food muzzle"?

Clearly this is a problem with what they are putting in their mouths and has nothing to do with the anatomy of their stomach nor of their metabolism.

One mom said it was a last resort? "? Since they don't actually have an illness other then eating too much why don't they simply have them wear a muzzle for six months first? it would be far less expensive.

I know that sounds harsh but this has become a huge cash cow for hospitals. I am very very sure that if you put these kids in a private school and controlled what they ate. poof they would lose the weight.

The doctors who are doing this procedure are hardly unbiased.. How much does Dr Mary make in profit off of these kids a year? Shame on her.. First do no harm.

What a bunch of over indulged children!! It just goes to show you that once again parents tend to take the easy way out. Lord knows you wouldn't want to have healthy food in your house and encourage the entire family to eat healthier and exercise. Just the fact that the young man went to camp and loss the weight THEN came HOME and gained the weight is a great signal. I was an overweight teen and adult. This surgery wasn't available (I'm 48 years old now). I continue to work hard to keep and loose weight. It's a lifestyle change.... eating well and exercise. It is simple math. I'm annoyed that the teens and parents felt this was the only way their child would get the weight off, but then I'm annoyed at many things today teens believe is due to them. I'd love to see a follow-up on this story and see if these individuals are well adjusted in their eating habits.