"Obese white teens in the U.S. are much more likely obese black or Hispanic teens to be treated with weight loss surgery..."

Obese minority children less likely to have weight-loss surgery

(Reuters Health) - Obese white teens in the U.S. are much more likely obese black or Hispanic teens to be treated with weight loss surgery, according to a recent study.

That’s despite the fact that minority kids are disproportionately affected by rising childhood obesity rates in the U.S.

Bariatric surgery, which includes several approaches to shrinking the stomach so patients eat less, has been shown to help with weight loss and reversing health conditions that come with obesity, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Current guidelines recommend the procedure for adolescents with serious or severe obesity who haven’t been able to lose weight with other treatments.