Researchers looked at whether weight loss surgery is safe and effective for teenagers and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (like autism or Down syndrome). They compared 9 young people with these disabilities who had weight loss surgery to 94 without these disabilities. The good news: both groups lost similar amounts of weight after surgery, and the group with disabilities actually had better vitamin levels. This suggests that having a developmental disability shouldn’t automatically prevent someone from getting weight loss surgery if they need it.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether teenagers and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can safely have weight loss surgery and lose weight just like people without these disabilities.
  • Who participated: 103 young people age 21 and under who had weight loss surgery at one hospital. Nine had developmental disabilities (2 with autism, 2 with Down syndrome, 5 with other developmental disabilities), and 94 did not.
  • Key finding: Young people with developmental disabilities lost just as much weight as those without—about 25-31% of their body weight in the first year. Surprisingly, those with disabilities had better vitamin levels after surgery.
  • What it means for you: If you or a family member has a developmental disability and struggles with weight, weight loss surgery may be a safe option worth discussing with doctors. However, this is a small study, so talk to your healthcare team about whether it’s right for your situation.

The Research Details

Researchers looked back at medical records from one hospital for young people who had weight loss surgery. They compared two groups: those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those without. They tracked how much weight each group lost at different time points (12, 24, and 36 months after surgery) and checked their vitamin levels. This type of study is called a retrospective review because doctors looked at what already happened, rather than following new patients going forward.

Weight loss surgery is a major decision, and doctors need to know if it works safely for all groups of people. Many doctors might hesitate to offer surgery to young people with developmental disabilities because they worry about complications or whether the surgery will work. This study helps answer those concerns by showing real results from actual patients.

This study has some important limitations to know about. It’s relatively small (only 9 people with disabilities), it only looked at one hospital, and it looked backward at medical records rather than following patients forward. The group with disabilities was also very small compared to the group without, which makes it harder to draw strong conclusions. However, the fact that results were similar between groups is encouraging.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that weight loss after surgery was nearly identical between the two groups. At 12 months, young people with disabilities lost 24.7% of their body weight compared to 28.9% in those without disabilities—a difference that’s not meaningful. At 24 months, those with disabilities actually lost slightly more (30.9% vs. 25.1%), and at 36 months the pattern continued (25.3% vs. 20.8%). These numbers show that having a developmental disability did not prevent successful weight loss from surgery. In fact, the results suggest that young people with disabilities may do just as well, if not better, than those without disabilities.

An interesting additional finding was about vitamins and minerals. After weight loss surgery, the body sometimes has trouble absorbing certain nutrients like B vitamins and iron. In this study, four young people without disabilities developed deficiencies in B1, B12, or iron vitamins. However, none of the young people with disabilities developed these deficiencies. This was unexpected and suggests that the group with disabilities may have had better nutrition management or different absorption patterns after surgery.

This research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that developmental disabilities should not automatically disqualify someone from weight loss surgery. Previous concerns about whether people with these disabilities could follow post-surgery instructions or handle the lifestyle changes appear to be unfounded based on this data. The similar weight loss outcomes align with what doctors are learning about the safety of weight loss surgery in various populations.

The biggest limitation is the small number of people with disabilities (only 9 compared to 94 without). This makes it harder to be confident about the findings. The study only looked at one hospital, so results might be different elsewhere. Doctors didn’t randomly assign people to groups—they just compared people who already had surgery—which means there could be differences between groups we don’t know about. The study also didn’t look at quality of life, mental health, or how well people followed post-surgery instructions, which are important outcomes.

The Bottom Line

If you have a developmental disability and obesity, weight loss surgery may be worth discussing with your doctor. The evidence suggests it can work as well as it does for people without disabilities. However, this is based on a small study, so decisions should be made with your healthcare team considering your individual situation. (Moderate confidence—based on limited evidence)

This research matters for teenagers and young adults with developmental disabilities who struggle with weight, their families, and their doctors. It’s particularly relevant for people with autism, Down syndrome, or other developmental conditions who have been told surgery isn’t an option. Doctors who care for young people with disabilities should also pay attention to these findings.

Weight loss typically becomes noticeable within the first few months after surgery, with the most significant loss happening in the first year. Most people reach their lowest weight around 18-24 months after surgery. However, maintaining weight loss requires ongoing lifestyle changes with diet and exercise.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If considering or recovering from weight loss surgery, track weekly weight and monthly measurements of waist, hips, and chest. Also log vitamin/mineral supplement intake and any symptoms of deficiency (fatigue, weakness, numbness).
  • Set reminders to take prescribed vitamins and minerals daily after surgery. Log meals to ensure adequate protein intake (typically 60-80 grams daily) and track water consumption (typically 64+ ounces daily). Record any difficulty swallowing or digestion issues.
  • Create a long-term tracking dashboard showing weight loss progress over months, vitamin level check-ins every 3-6 months, and adherence to post-surgery dietary guidelines. Set monthly goals for physical activity and nutrition milestones.

This research suggests weight loss surgery may be safe and effective for young people with developmental disabilities, but it’s based on a small study from one hospital. Weight loss surgery is a major medical procedure with risks and benefits that vary by individual. Anyone considering weight loss surgery should have a thorough evaluation by a qualified surgical team, including discussions about their specific disability, ability to follow post-surgery instructions, and long-term lifestyle changes. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making decisions about surgery.