Bariatric Surgery Offers Long-Term Health Gains for Adolescents
Research By: Todd Jenkins, PhD, MPH | Michael Helmrath, MD
Post Date: July 23, 2025 | Publish Date: Oct. 31, 2024
“One of the most notable results was an average body mass index (BMI) reduction of 20%—a full decade after surgery.” — Todd Jenkins, PhD, MPH
More than half of adolescents who undergo bariatric surgery sustain significant weight loss and remain in remission from obesity-related conditions—including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol—for at least a decade, according to recent research.
These findings were published as a correspondence in The New England Journal of Medicine by researchers from the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) clinical study.
Cincinnati Children’s serves as the national data center for Teen-LABS, which is the largest, longest follow-up study of bariatric surgery outcomes in teens. The prospective, multicenter observational cohort study analyzed the outcomes of 260 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 who underwent either gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy.
Sustained Weight Loss and Remission of Obesity-Related Conditions
Study co-author Todd Jenkins, PhD, MPH, a Teen-LABS investigator and member of the Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Cincinnati Children’s, highlights the significance of the study’s 10-year findings.
“One of the most notable results was an average body mass index (BMI) reduction of 20%—a full decade after surgery,” Jenkins says. “Additionally, early weight-loss success at six months post-op was linked to greater long-term outcomes.”
Jenkins also emphasizes that another important finding was the durable comorbidity remission. More than half of the study participants remained free of obesity-related conditions 10 years after surgery—a result that, he notes, “far exceeded remission rates typically seen in adults.”
Teen-LABS’ Learnings Shape New Treatment Approaches
Funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Teen-LABS was designed to evaluate the long-term benefits and risks of bariatric surgery in adolescents with severe obesity. Its goal: to help inform future treatment decisions for this patient population.
According to Michael Helmrath, MD, a Teen-LABS investigator and director of surgical research at Cincinnati Children’s, these insights are increasingly relevant in the context of newer therapies.
“Treatment pathways for adolescents with Type 2 diabetes should result in sustained resolution of the metabolic aspects along with weight loss,” says Helmrath, who also leads the Center for Bariatric Research and Innovation, as well as the Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM). “New therapies should work synergistically with surgical approaches—and produce similar long-term outcomes. Each can inform best practices for the other.”
Helmrath also cautions against assuming adult data can be applied to younger patients. “The age of the patient matters,” he says. “The disease presents and progresses differently in adolescents than adults.”
What’s Next for Teen-LABS?
Although Teen-LABS is no longer enrolling new participants or collecting new data, investigators continue to analyze and publish findings from the 10-year dataset collected. They’re also currently exploring new questions and issues arising from bariatric surgery, especially in the context of emerging GLP-1 agonist medications like Ozempic® and Mounjaro®.
Don’t Miss a Post:
- Subscribe to the Research Horizons Newsletter
- Follow Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation on Bluesky, X and LinkedIn
| Original title: | Ten-Year Outcomes Following Adolescent Bariatric Surgery |
| Published in: | New England Journal of Medicine |
| Publish date: | Oct. 31, 2024 |
Research By
As a pediatric surgeon scientist, Dr. Helmrath has established a large multidisciplinary team dedicated to clinical, translational, and basic science research focused on human diseases.
Latest Posts
About this blog
The Research Horizons blog features news and insights about the latest discoveries and innovations developed by the scientists of Cincinnati Children's. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Email researchnews@cchmc.org with questions or ideas.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter