Weight-Loss Surgery (Bariatric Surgery) Program

Weight-Loss Surgery (Bariatric Surgery) Program
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At Children’s National Hospital, our Bariatric Surgery Program performs weight-loss surgery for children and adolescents and provides a range of support services to help your family achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Childhood obesity is a complex condition that dramatically increases the risk of other serious health problems, such as diabetes, disability, heart disease and mental health issues. If your child has tried different weight-loss methods without success, weight-loss surgery is a treatment option that can help children and adolescents achieve better health when combined with lifestyle changes.

Our Providers

Our pediatric specialists provide personalized care for your child’s physical, mental and emotional health needs.

Meet the Team

Contact Information

For appointments, please call 1-888-884-BEAR (2327) and for information, call 202-476-2150.

Appointments Information

Choosing Children's National for Bariatric Surgery

We know that weight-loss surgery is not a decision you and your child are making lightly. Together with your family, Children's National helps to create a strong support system to help patients come to an informed decision, make the important lifestyle changes, and even adjust their new bodies after weight loss surgery. Highlights of our program include:

Dedicated multidisciplinary team. Children’s National performs over 100 pediatric bariatric surgery cases each year. Our surgeons are board-certified in both general surgery and pediatric surgery. Additionally, our team includes a wide range of pediatric weight-loss specialists who understand that children are not simply “younger-adults.” We work with each other and with your family to provide the best outcome possible. Meet our team.
Quality care. We are accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP^®). This designation makes Children’s National one of the first children’s hospitals to receive such accreditation, and the only hospital in the area to be accredited to perform safe, high-quality weight loss surgery for teenagers. Learn more .
Level 1 Surgery Verification. We have attained Level 1 Surgery Verification from the American College of Surgeons, a distinction that recognizes surgery centers that have improved surgical quality, prevented complications, reduced costs and saved lives.
Personalized care. Your child may have their own questions about bariatric surgery and their post-surgery bodies. Our team includes child psychologists who can talk to your child and address any questions or concerns he or she may have. In addition, we will develop a personalized lifestyle and follow-up plan for your child to adhere to both before and after weight-loss surgery.
Family-focused. We strongly emphasize family education, and we encourage family members to be active participants in the healthcare team.

Understanding Bariatric Surgery

At Children’s National, we provide children and adolescents with a safe, effective surgery and successful outcome. After a year, our patients lose an average of 70-100 pounds (sometimes more). In addition to maintaining a healthy weight, bariatric surgery reduces the risk of developing other diseases.

If you are considering weight-loss surgery for your child or teenager, we recommend that you talk to one of our pediatric surgical specialists. We also recommend you do the weight-loss surgery earlier rather than later since children will continue to gain weight as they grow, lessening the benefits of the surgery.

Learn more about:

Eligibility Criteria for Bariatric Surgery Procedures

You may be wondering if your child is a candidate for bariatric surgery. Candidates must meet these requirements:

Have a BMI of at least 35 with an obesity-related medical condition OR a BMI of greater than 40 without an obesity-related health condition
Understand the lifelong dietary commitment required after the surgery
Complete all clinically required laboratory and diagnostic tests
Have confirmation from a psychologist or psychiatrist that he/she is mature enough to comply with the requirements
Complete follow-up visits for three years after surgery

Types of Bariatric Surgeries

We perform mainly two types of weight-loss surgeries for children:

Sleeve gastrectomy. During this procedure, the surgeon removes a large part (about 80-90%) of the stomach. This affects how much a child can eat, but not how the body absorbs food and nutrients. It also improves metabolism in most patients. We use this procedure most often for children and adolescents. Learn more about sleeve gastrectomy.
Gastric bypass. This procedure does two things: It makes the stomach smaller, limiting how much food you can eat. It also causes food to bypass parts of the small intestines, reducing how much food and nutrients the body absorbs. Because it affects the absorption of nutrients, we generally do not recommend this as the primary procedure for children and teenagers. However, it is offered for select patients including those who have not lost enough weight with sleeve gastrectomy.

Multidisciplinary Bariatric Surgery Care Team

Our pediatric surgeons have years of experience in performing bariatric surgery. In addition, we are among the nation’s top experts in the field, training other pediatric surgeons around the country in weight-loss surgery for children. We are also extensively involved in research, analyzing tissue from our patients to gain a better understanding of childhood obesity with the goal of personalizing treatment for each patient.

The program’s multidisciplinary team includes many different pediatric specialists, working together to ensure your child’s safe and successful outcome. Our team includes:

Our multidisciplinary medical weight management clinic known as Obesity Program (IDEAL Clinic)
Child psychologists
Physical therapists
Dietitians
Anesthesiologists
Pediatric sub-specialists (e.g., Endocrinology, Sleep Medicine, Cardiology, etc.)
Staff nurses
Social workers

Meet the team.

Additional Contact Information

For urgent assistance outside of business hours, please call 202-476-5000.

After-hours

Bariatric Surgery Consultation Request

This form is for families who are interested in learning more about our weight-loss surgery program for adolescents. The purpose of this form is to give our staff some information to move forward with you and your child in your journey to better health. For more information, please call us.

Consultation Form More information

Conditions We Treat

Understanding your child's condition is an important step on your treatment journey. Learn more about causes, symptoms and diagnosis for a variety of conditions, as well as unique treatments and research being performed at Children's National.

Locations

Main Hospital

111 Michigan Avenue, NW Washington, Washington DC 20010

1-888-884-2327

Emergency Department Info

Specialty Care

Friendship Heights

5028 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, Washington DC 20016

202-895-3860

202-895-3870

Specialty Care

All Weight-Loss Surgery (Bariatric Surgery) Program Locations

Patient Stories

Apr 30, 2022
Renesha's Story
When Renesha came to Children's at 19-years-old, she weighed 286 pounds. Now, after her treatment through the Obesity Program, she's a self-proclaimed "health freak," encouraging her family and friends to work out and eat healthy with her.

Mar 28, 2020
Sabrina's Story
At just 13 years old, Sabrina had already exhausted the endless list of weight-loss diets and programs that had promised her "real" results. And to her ever-deepening frustration and despair, nothing was working.
Oct 29, 2015
Maria's Journey
Maria was the first patient to have weight-loss surgery at Children's National. With its multidisciplinary approach, a team developed a personalized plan for the teenager.

Family Resources

At Children's National, we are dedicated to supporting families and caregivers every step of the way on their treatment journey. Get answers to your questions about childhood obesity and the weight-loss surgery process.

View frequently asked questions