Research Studies

Adolescent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is performed under the guidelines approved by the Food and Drug Administration and Columbia University's Institutional Review Board. As one of the leading centers in a multicenter trial affiliated with the American Pediatric Surgical Association, our program is part of a consortium of major children's hospitals conducting careful study of bariatric surgery in adolescents. Because the program includes physicians with long expertise in each specialty, patients can be assured that they are receiving the highest level of care available.

Our Center also participates in multicenter evaluations of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. As a major part of our care, we study every patient to measure excess weight loss, change in BMI, and change in obesity-associated comorbid conditions. Our investigations evaluate the safety and success rates of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery in treating adolescents who are obese. There is substantial evidence worldwide that attests to the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic gastric banding, and we are now documenting its role in the adolescent population.

In addition to evaluating the general body changes that occur in the months and years following adjustable gastric banding, we also study the metabolic effects of banding in growing teens. It is our hypothesis that gradual, steady weight loss will not result in nutritional deficiencies, but rather will result in long-term and sustainable weight reduction.

• The natural history of obesity-associated conditions (Type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension) while patients are losing weight and when they have lost substantial weight
• Changes in metabolic parameters (leptin, grehlin) with weight reduction
• Changes in quality of life associated with weight loss.
• Social factors related to successful weight reduction after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding