WEIGHT WARNINGThe TWO-YEAR-OLDS getting bariatric surgery, as stats reveal more children are fat than underweight for first time ever

In this article, pediatric surgeon Dr. Evan Nadler responds to a new UNICEF report calling attention to the rise in weight loss surgery in children. Dr. Nadler unpacks the medical, ethical, and practical implications behind operating on young patients, including when surgery is appropriate and when it might not be. He challenges assumptions that weight issues are simply a matter of willpower and argues for a more compassionate, evidence-based approach.

Key themes include:

• How the UNICEF report highlights concerns about children receiving bariatric surgery prematurely, often without full context.

• Dr. Nadler’s view on balancing benefits versus risks of surgery in pediatric obesity, especially when lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough.

• The ethical duty of doctors to ensure informed consent and protect vulnerable children from unnecessary procedures.

• The importance of systemic change, access to healthy food, preventive care, and early intervention—rather than relying solely on surgical fixes.

• What parents, healthcare providers, and policy makers should do now: better education, stricter guidelines, and ensuring decisions are child-centered, not politically driven.

Read the full article here.