The case of a nine-year-old Egyptian girl undergoing a gastric sleeve surgery has ignited heated debate among medical professionals and the public alike.
While some viewed it as a bold step in combating early childhood obesity, others strongly warned against such procedures at a young age due to potential risks on physical and psychological development.
Experts explained that bariatric surgery has long been governed by strict international standards. Since 1991, these procedures were limited to patients aged 18 to 60, primarily to avoid intervening before full physical and hormonal maturity.
However, in 2023, both the American and European associations of bariatric surgery updated their guidelines, lowering the minimum age in exceptional cases, provided the child has reached biological maturity and the decision is carefully assessed by a specialist.
In Egypt, a national committee was recently established to draft official guidelines regulating bariatric surgeries, ensuring doctors adhere to unified medical standards rather than relying on individual judgment.
Surgeons highlight that bariatric surgery for children remains scientifically controversial worldwide.
The decision depends on each child’s unique condition, with critical requirements including: assessment by a multidisciplinary team involving endocrinologists and psychologists, strong family support for diet and follow-up, and the child’s ability to comply with lifelong medical instructions.
Doctors emphasize that such operations should be considered a last resort, only after non-surgical approaches, dietary management, physical activity, and psychological support, have failed.
Moreover, these surgeries must be performed in highly specialized centers with long-term monitoring and consistent use of nutritional supplements.
Studies indicate that bariatric surgery can result in 25–30% weight loss within two to three years, but also warn of complications if strict guidelines are not followed. Performing these operations for cosmetic purposes alone, or without the child’s full awareness, is deemed highly unsafe.
In response, the Egyptian Medical Syndicate announced that it has opened an investigation into the doctor who performed the surgery on the young girl, with a dedicated committee set to review his compliance with established medical standards.
