PhD defence Yvonne Godefridus Maria Roebroek

Keywords: Severe obesity, Adolescence, Surgery, Weight loss

"Adolescents Living with Severe Obesity: A Growing Problem Asking for Daring Solutions"

This dissertation examines the challenges and health effects of severe obesity in adolescents, as well as the role of bariatric surgery. Many general practitioners and pediatric surgeons are hesitant to refer patients for surgery due to uncertainty about long-term safety and effectiveness. Guidelines and treatment availability vary widely across countries. The BASIC trial compared gastric band surgery combined with lifestyle support to lifestyle intervention alone in adolescents who did not respond to previous treatments. At the start, nearly 40% of participants had moderate to severe sleep apnea, and over half showed heart changes, highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment. After one year, surgery plus lifestyle support led to an average weight loss of 11% and improvements in insulin sensitivity and triglycerides, while the lifestyle-only group gained weight. Surgery also improved sleep quality. The surgical procedures did not result in serious complications.

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