Metabolic Bariatric Surgery Demonstrates Significant Long-Term Weight Reduction and Metabolic Improvements in Adolescents

Strategic Insights -

A new study has found that metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is an effective treatment for paediatric obesity, resulting in significant long-term weight reduction and improvements in various metabolic parameters. The study, published in Scientific Reports, analyzed data from 12 studies involving 451 patients aged 5-19 years who underwent either Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) surgery. The median follow-up period was 12 months, during which patients experienced a mean BMI decrease of -14.4 kg/m^2 and a percentage of total weight loss (TWL) of 25%.

Key Takeaways:

  • Metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) resulted in significant long-term weight reduction in adolescents, with a mean BMI decrease of -14.4 kg/m^2 and a percentage of total weight loss (TWL) of 25%.
  • MBS was associated with improvements in metabolic parameters, including reduced cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and increased HDL.
  • Patients experienced significant enhancements in glycaemic, pancreatic, and insulin regulation, evidenced by decreased HOMA-IR and C-peptide.
  • Liver function parameters, including ALT, AST, and GGT, significantly declined following surgery.
  • Systemic inflammation, as measured by IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels, was reduced following MBS.

Statistics:

  • 451 patients were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 16.9 years.
  • The median follow-up period was 12 months.
  • 275 patients underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, while 140 patients underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) surgery.
  • Mean BMI decrease: -14.4 kg/m^2 (95% CI: -17.5 to -11.3).
  • Percentage of total weight loss (TWL): 25% (95% CI: 18.6 to 32.2).
  • Cholesterol reduction: -10 mg/dL.
  • LDL reduction: -14.6 mg/dL.
  • Triglycerides reduction: -33.3 mg/dL.
  • HDL increase: +8.0 mg/dL.
  • HOMA-IR decrease: -4.1.
  • C-peptide decrease: -1.8 ng/mL.
  • ALT reduction: -14.4 U/L.
  • AST reduction: -5.4 U/L.
  • GGT reduction: -9.6 U/L.
  • IL-6 reduction: -12.2 pg/mL.
  • TNF-alpha reduction: -54 pg/mL.

Sources:

  • Impact of metabolic and bariatric surgery on the paediatric & adolescent metabolome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 2025;15(1):36169.
  • NewsRx. Investigators at Imperial College London Have Reported New Data on Bariatric Surgery (Impact of metabolic and bariatric surgery on the paediatric & adolescent metabolome: A systematic review and meta-analysis). Pediatrics Week. November 1, 2025; p 611.