Ethics and psychosocial aspects in child and adolescent candidates for bariatric surgery

Abstract

The treatment and prevention of obesity in childhood and adolescence are often discussed by both physicians and the lay public. Even with little information in relation to the long-term consequences of bariatric surgery in this age group, there is evidence to suggest that this procedure is being offered more and more frequently. Extremely relevant ethical issues exist relating to concepts such as beneficence, autonomy, capacity and equality. The aim of this paper was to discuss the ethical and biopsychosocial aspects involved in decisions about performing this surgery to treat obesity in children and adolescents, through a literature review of Pubmed from May 1994 to May 2015 using the terms “ethics” and “bariatric surgery” × “adolescents” × “children”. The surgical treatment of obesity in children and adolescents is controversial. Physicians should be aware of this and make currently existing information available to parents and patients.