Adolescent obesity and obesity-related conditions have risen at alarming rates in the United States, positioning childhood obesity as a major public health issue. The consequences of adolescent obesity are far-reaching and often include medical, psychosocial, emotional, and economic burdens. Traditional interventions targeted at diet and behavior modification are largely ineffective in reducing adolescent adiposity. Bariatric surgery, therefore, is gaining recognition as a means to significant and sustained weight loss in the teenage population. Given the innovative nature of this intervention and the lack of robust evidence to support its safety and efficacy in this population, few procedures are being performed on pediatric patients. Surgical weight loss in young patients with severe obesity poses a staid ethical burden to all involved. This article addresses the ethical issues of beneficence and nonmaleficence as they apply to adolescent bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery for the treatment of severe adolescent obesity is an ethical and effective approach when performed discriminately in centers that can provide expert interprofessional support.
