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THE benefits of losing weight during the teenage years are so great that severely obese adolescents should be offered stomach-restricting surgery, according to the results of Australian research.

The original article can be found at: http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/study-backs-gastric-bands-for-obese-teens-20100210-nsct.html

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A complex and controversial topic. It's very hard to get good research on surgical interventions and this is a controlled study on a small group over a good period of time. However the results of this study weren't easily interpreted and it is questionable whether in this form they justify the conclusion that this should be offered to severely obese adolescents. Good use of expert sources and disclosure of funding.

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