"Lap band surgery has significant benefits for severely obese teenagers and despite its controversial nature should still be considered as a first option to manage obesity during adolescence a new study has found. Led by University of Adelaide researchers in collaboration with Flinders Medical Centre and published in the journal Obesity Surgery httplink.springer.comarticle.s the study is the first to show medium to longterm followup  years of lap band surgery in Australian adolescents. The research followed  severely obese teenagers between  and  years who had Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding lap band surgery in the South Australian Health Service.  Severe obesity is associated with serious physical and psychological conditions affecting quality of life. Australian revised National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines for obesity management say that lap band surgery should be considered in adolescents with severe obesity  that is with a body mass index BMI over  kgm or over  kgm weightheight with the presence of obesityrelated diseases and who dont respond to medical treatment. However there is no data available in Australian adolescents beyond  months postsurgery. We are talking about a group of adolescents with severe obesity and significant health and psychological problems related to their increased weight  this is not for everyone says corresponding author and Paediatric Endocrinologist Dr Alexia Pea who is a Senior Lecturer with the University of Adelaides Robinson Research Institute. The study found that weight and BMI improved significantly at all followup times following surgery from three months through to  months and in some cases as long as five years. BMI loss was between . and . kgm. The median BMI reduction of  kgm with the lap band is a good result when compared to BMI reduction using the few medications available or lifestyle measures which is around  kgm says Dr Pea. Lap band surgery is reversible and allows time for adolescents to mature to make a more informed decision on a permanent surgical procedure if required later on in life. This is not the case for other surgeries currently offered for obesity management.  It is also important that teenagers undergoing this surgery have access to an experienced surgeon as part of a multidisciplinary paediatric team of doctors and Health professionals to ensure there is longterm regular followup. Paediatric surgeon Mr Sanjeev Khurana who did all the lap band surgeries between  and  says lap band surgery is a reversible surgical procedure that can be safely used in teens with severe obesity. Although gastric banding has been controversial and is currently less used in adults with severe obesity lap band surgery is one of the most studied surgeries for obesity management has a high safety record and can be a temporary option to manage severe obesity during adolescence says Mr Khurana who is also a Senior Lecturer in the University of Adelaides Discipline of Paediatrics. Our findings support lap band surgery as a safe and effective option for management of adolescents with severe obesity  provided it is performed by an experienced surgeon and managed afterwards in a paediatric multidisciplinary environment with regular followup until adulthood. Media Contact Dr Alexia Pea Paediatric Endocrinologist and Senior Lecturer Robinson Research Institute University of Adelaide. Mobile     alexia.penaadelaide.edu.au mailtoalexia.penaadelaide.edu.ausubjectNewswiseArticleReporterFollowupbccreportersnewswise.com Mr Sanjeev Khurana Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide. Mobile      sanjeev.khuranasa.gov.au mailtosanjeev.khuranasa.gov.ausubjectNewswiseArticleReporterFollowupbccreportersnewswise.com Lachlan Parker Deputy Director  Media and Corporate Relations Mobile     lachlan.parkeradelaide.edu.au mailtolachlan.parkeradelaide.edu.ausubjectNewswiseArticleReporterFollowupbccreportersnewswise.com SEE ORIGINAL STUDY httplink.springer.comarticle.s"