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Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and/or Grandchildren of Adult Bariatric Surgery Patients

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Abstract

Background

Clinical experience suggests that some adults who undergo bariatric surgery have children who are obese. Childhood obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in later life. This study examined the prevalence of obesity among children and grandchildren (≤12 years of age) of adult bariatric surgery patients.

Methods

Patients in a prospective database of morbidly obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery between January 2004 and May 2007 were recruited by phone and in clinic. Patient demographics, body mass index (BMI) at surgery, and survey data were collected. The survey included questions regarding their child/grandchild's body habitus, weight, and height. Child obesity was defined as BMI percentile ≥95. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

One hundred twenty-two patients were enrolled in this study (77% women, mean BMI 49 kg/m2). One hundred thirty-four out of 233 children/grandchildren identified had complete data; 41% had a BMI percentile ≥95. Only 29% of these obese children were so identified by the adult respondents. Significantly more biological children/grandchildren were obese than nonbiological (p = 0.013), and significantly more biological children were obese than biological grandchildren (p = 0.027).

Conclusions

This sample of bariatric surgery patients had a high proportion of obese preteen children/grandchildren. Obesity was most prevalent among biological children (vs. biological grandchildren and nonbiological children). Patients often did not recognize the degree of overweight in their children/grandchildren. Because families of bariatric surgery patients often include obese children, interventions aimed at all family members merit consideration.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Julie Koerner, Nicole Loughran, Patricia McGuire, Lavonne Hopson, and the enrolled patients for their assistance with this study. The summer student research work done by authors Bao and Desai was paid for by the American Pediatric Society and the Society for Pediatric Research.

Conflict of Interest

None for all authors.

Sources of support

Sources of support (grant, etc) were Student Program of the American Pediatric Society and Society for Pediatric Research; State of IL Excellence in Academic Medicine Program; Department of Surgery at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Jean J. Bao

  2. University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Vikas Desai

  3. Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, Children’s Memorial Research Center, 2300 Children’s Plaza #157, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA

    Katherine Kaufer Christoffel

  4. Departments of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Katherine Kaufer Christoffel

  5. Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Patrick Smith-Ray & Alex P. Nagle

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  1. Jean J. Bao
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  2. Vikas Desai
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  3. Katherine Kaufer Christoffel
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  4. Patrick Smith-Ray
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  5. Alex P. Nagle
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Correspondence to Katherine Kaufer Christoffel.

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Bao, J.J., Desai, V., Christoffel, K.K. et al. Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and/or Grandchildren of Adult Bariatric Surgery Patients. OBES SURG 19, 833–839 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-009-9835-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-009-9835-5

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