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Stomach stapling for obese children
17.56 Sun Nov 19 2006
The NHS could be about to offer morbidly obese children as young as 15 radical weight-loss surgery.
The body that approves new treatments, NICE, is expected to give the go-ahead to operations including stomach-stapling, despite the fact they cost up to £8,000 a time.
The number of obese children in the UK has doubled in the past ten years.
It is reported that the guidelines, which will go out to public consultation, also recommend that grossly overweight children are prescribed the anti-obesity drugs Xenical and Reductil.
The drugs will mainly be given to youngsters aged 12 and over but younger children could qualify in certain circumstances.
The number of adults undergoing stomach surgery on the NHS has almost doubled in the past three years. Until now NICE has insisted such surgery can only be carried out on adults over 18.
17.56 Sun Nov 19 2006
The NHS could be about to offer morbidly obese children as young as 15 radical weight-loss surgery.
The body that approves new treatments, NICE, is expected to give the go-ahead to operations including stomach-stapling, despite the fact they cost up to £8,000 a time.
The number of obese children in the UK has doubled in the past ten years.
It is reported that the guidelines, which will go out to public consultation, also recommend that grossly overweight children are prescribed the anti-obesity drugs Xenical and Reductil.
The drugs will mainly be given to youngsters aged 12 and over but younger children could qualify in certain circumstances.
The number of adults undergoing stomach surgery on the NHS has almost doubled in the past three years. Until now NICE has insisted such surgery can only be carried out on adults over 18.
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