Cholesterol

Severe obesity can lead to low self-esteem, less social interaction with peers and depression.Kerri Green, director of education for the Weller Health Education Center in Easton, Pa., believes studies are needed to find out if young people can understand the physical, psychological and emotional consequences of bariatric surgery, which she said should be done only for compelling medical reasons."We see a lot of what we call the 'Extreme Makeover' phenomenon, where kids see surgery as a quick fix that will make up for poor eating habits and a lack of exercise," she said.Munson's mother, Barbara Farnsworth, said they exhausted all other options before resorting to surgery."It breaks your heart to see your child struggling and becoming so depressed and to hear doctors say she won't see 30 if she doesn't lose weight," Farnsworth said.

"This is only a tool, but I now see a future for Amanda that just wasn't there before."___On the Net: http://ww...

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