Gastric Balloons for children as young as 12!!!

An article by Fran Wetzel in The Sun talks about the fact that KIDS as young as 12 will be given gastric balloon operations in a bid to find a cure for childhood obesity.

A leading children’s hospital is planning to carry out the drastic stomach ops on ten severely overweight youngsters.

Doctors hope the procedure will help the kids curb their appetites and lose weight.

Gastric ballons have proved effective in adults — but few studies have involved children.

Dr Neil Wright — running the trial at Sheffield Children’s Hospital — said only morbidly obese boys and girls weighing 14st to 20st would be chosen. The average weight for youngsters aged 13 to 16 is between 7st and 10st.

They would also have to meet strict medical guidelines and have completed puberty so their bones are matured to a skeletal age of 14.

A balloon would then be fed down their throats and into their stomachs. There it is inflated with salt water to make them feel fuller and eat less.

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However I wonder though, as this is a new procedure, whether it is  storing up trouble for the kids in the future when they reach adulthood!

What are your thoughts????