By Matheus Sanchez
19 July 2004
Children in their early teens are to be given stomach-shrinking surgery for the first time in Britain as the youth obesity problem continues to worry experts.
Some children's health is at such a risk that doctors are considering the procedure for patients as young as 14 who have reached 30 stone and more. One doctor-who operates privately said he already had a waiting list of 24 children.
The reversible and less invasive procedure of inserting a gastric balloon - which costs �5,000 - is more likely to be used, rather than stomachstapling.