Severe obesity can damage the heart, especially in teenagers. Researchers studied whether weight loss surgery could help fix this damage in teens aged 14-16 who hadn’t succeeded with diet and exercise alone. One group had gastric banding surgery (a procedure that makes the stomach smaller) plus lifestyle support, while another group only received lifestyle support. After one year, the surgery group lost significantly more weight and showed improvements in heart structure, suggesting that weight loss surgery may help protect teen hearts from future disease.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether weight loss surgery helps fix heart problems caused by severe obesity in teenagers
  • Who participated: 18 severely obese teenagers aged 14-16 (10 in surgery group, 8 in lifestyle-only group) who had already tried diet and exercise for at least 12 months without success
  • Key finding: Teenagers who had weight loss surgery lost significantly more weight than those who only received lifestyle support, and their heart structure improved—specifically, the thickened heart muscle that develops from obesity started to return to normal
  • What it means for you: For severely obese teens who haven’t succeeded with diet and exercise, weight loss surgery may offer benefits beyond just losing weight—it may also help reverse damage to the heart. However, this is still a major decision that requires careful discussion with doctors

The Research Details

This was a carefully designed experiment where researchers randomly assigned severely obese teenagers to one of two groups. One group received gastric banding surgery (a procedure where a band is placed around the stomach to make it smaller, limiting how much food can be eaten) plus support for healthy lifestyle changes. The other group received only the lifestyle support without surgery. Both groups were checked at the beginning and again one year later using ultrasound to look at their heart structure and measure their weight.

The researchers specifically looked at teenagers aged 14-16 who had already tried to lose weight through diet and exercise for at least 12 months without enough success. This is important because it means they were studying people for whom the usual approaches hadn’t worked well enough.

This research design is strong because it compares two groups treated differently, which helps show whether the surgery itself—not just weight loss in general—makes a difference. By using ultrasound to look at actual heart structure changes, the researchers could see if the heart was actually healing, not just assuming it would based on weight loss alone. The one-year follow-up period gives enough time to see meaningful changes.

This study is a randomized controlled trial, which is considered a high-quality type of research. However, the sample size is quite small (only 18 teenagers total), which means the results are less certain than they would be with more participants. The study was conducted at a single center, so results may not apply to all teenagers everywhere. The researchers did use objective measurements (ultrasound imaging) rather than relying on patient reports, which strengthens the findings.

What the Results Show

The surgery group lost significantly more weight than the lifestyle-only group. On average, the surgery group’s BMI (a measure of weight relative to height) decreased by 6.75 points more than the control group. This is a meaningful difference—roughly equivalent to a 5'4" teenager losing about 40-50 pounds more than someone in the lifestyle-only group.

More importantly for heart health, the surgery group showed improvements in heart structure. The left ventricle (the main pumping chamber of the heart) had become thickened from the obesity, but after surgery and weight loss, this thickening decreased. The measurement of left ventricular mass index decreased by 8.21 points in the surgery group. Additionally, the relative wall thickness of the left ventricle decreased, meaning the heart walls became less abnormally thick.

These changes suggest that the heart was actually recovering and returning toward a more normal structure. This is significant because a thickened heart is at higher risk for future problems like heart attacks and irregular heartbeats.

While the surgery group showed clear improvements in heart structure, when researchers compared the surgery group directly to the control group statistically, the differences didn’t quite reach the level of statistical significance for some measurements. This means we can’t be completely certain the surgery itself caused the improvement versus other factors. However, the improvements within the surgery group were clear and meaningful.

Previous research has shown that severe obesity in teenagers damages the heart by causing it to thicken and work less efficiently. This study adds to that knowledge by showing that weight loss surgery may actually reverse some of this damage. Most previous studies in adults with obesity have shown similar benefits, so these findings in teenagers are consistent with what we know from older populations. However, there is limited research specifically on teenagers, making this study particularly valuable.

The study had a small number of participants (only 18 total), which limits how confident we can be in the results. A larger study would provide stronger evidence. The study only followed participants for one year, so we don’t know if the improvements continue, get better, or reverse over longer periods. The study was done at one hospital, so results might be different in other locations or with different surgical teams. Additionally, the researchers couldn’t completely separate the effects of surgery from the effects of the lifestyle support that both groups received.

The Bottom Line

For severely obese teenagers who have tried diet and exercise for at least 12 months without adequate success, weight loss surgery combined with lifestyle support may be worth discussing with a doctor. The evidence suggests it can lead to significant weight loss and improvements in heart health. However, this is a major decision with risks and benefits that should be carefully considered with a medical team. (Moderate confidence—based on a small study, but consistent with adult research)

This research is most relevant to severely obese teenagers (ages 14-16) and their families who are considering weight loss surgery options. It’s also important for doctors who work with obese teenagers. This does NOT apply to teenagers with mild or moderate obesity, as they should continue with diet and exercise approaches first. It also doesn’t apply to younger children or adults, though similar benefits may exist in those groups.

Based on this study, meaningful weight loss and heart improvements can be seen within one year of surgery. However, the maximum benefits may take longer to develop, and it’s unclear how long these improvements last. Teenagers considering surgery should expect to commit to lifestyle changes for the long term to maintain benefits.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly weight and monthly waist circumference measurements. For those post-surgery, also monitor energy levels and exercise capacity (how long they can exercise before getting tired) as indirect measures of heart health improvement
  • If considering or post-surgery: Set specific, achievable goals for water intake (8+ glasses daily), protein intake (to preserve muscle during weight loss), and daily movement (starting with 10-minute walks and gradually increasing). Use the app to log meals and exercise, and set reminders for follow-up doctor appointments
  • Monthly weight tracking with quarterly check-ins on how the user feels (energy, shortness of breath, exercise tolerance). For post-surgery patients, track adherence to dietary guidelines and exercise recommendations. Flag any concerning symptoms (chest pain, severe shortness of breath) for immediate medical attention

This research describes findings from a small clinical trial and should not be considered personal medical advice. Weight loss surgery is a major procedure with significant risks and benefits that vary by individual. Any teenager or family considering weight loss surgery should have detailed discussions with their doctor, including a cardiologist and bariatric surgeon, to understand whether it’s appropriate for their specific situation. This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical consultation. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers before making decisions about surgery or major health interventions.