Mother and Child Health After Maternal Bariatric Surgery

Childhood obesity has been a growing problem with more than 30% of children between 6 and 19 years old being considered overweight or obese. Obese children are at increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and are susceptible to the sociological effects of being overweight. Obesity is a multifactorial disease, is often familial and multi-generational, and studies have shown that parental obesity can increase the risk of a child becoming obese. Currently, one of the most successful treatment options for obesity is bariatric surgery. The Nebraska Medicine Bariatric Center offers patients counseling in improved dietary management, methods to increase physical activity, and psychological support. As part of the programs standard-of-care, each bariatric surgical patient receives consultation with a dietician, psychologist, and an exercise physiologist. We propose that mothers who are enrolled in the surgical weight loss program bring their children to attend the presurgical specialist consultation. Subjects enrolled in the study will have their height, weight, and physical activity assessed at preoperative and postoperative study visits. Study subjects will also complete questionnaires of their self-reported physical activity and eating habits at these study visits. The goal of this pilot study is to examine whether this behavioral intervention will have an impact on the overall health and weight of children whose mothers have received bariatric surgery.