Mauney Erin, Desai Nirav K, Mitchell Paul, Carmine Brian, Fayemi Annemari , Richmond Camilla
Background: Research on the impact of socioeconomic characteristics on bariatric surgical outcomes in adolescents and young adults is limited.
Objectives: To determine whether race, household income, or insurance type impacted body mass index (BMI) at time of surgery and weight loss at 1 year post-surgery.
Methods: Adolescents and young adults who underwent bariatric surgery at a single center (Boston Children’s Hospital) between 2011 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was BMI percentile at time of surgery and one and 2 years post-surgery.
Results: Among 54 subjects, 83% were female. Racially, 56% were White, 33% were Hispanic, 9% were Black, and 2% were Chinese (cumulatively referred to as people of color [POC]). 22% were publicly insured. There was no statistical difference in BMI at time of neither surgery, nor weight loss at 1 year for subjects on public vs. private insurance, nor by household income. BMI for POC subjects was 8.5% higher than for White subjects’ at time of surgery and 1 year post-op (P=0.02).
Conclusion: Relative to the pool of adolescents and young adults with obesity, our patients were disproportionately female, White, and privately insured, suggesting disparities in surgical access. POC subjects demonstrated less post-surgery weight loss than White subjects, but other socioeconomic variables did not impact weight loss.
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