Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * BMI (or projected BMI) \> 40 kg/m² (projected BMI = weight over the age- and gender-specific BMI z-score defined as severe obesity corresponding at a projected BMI of 40 at the age of 18y) OR * BMI ((or projected BMI) \> 35 kg/m² (projected BMI = weight over the age- and gender-specific BMI z-score defined as severe obesity corresponding at a projected BMI of 35 at the age of 18y) + 1 or more of the following obesity-related comorbid conditions: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, benign intracranial hypertension. * Minimum 6 months of organized weight loss attempts before surgery (multidisciplinary follow-up) * Completed most of their linear growth (Tanner stage ≥ IV, bone age ≥ 13 years in girls and ≥ 14 years in boys assessed by the Tanner and Whitehouse method) * Capability and willingness to adhere to postoperative guidelines and prolonged surveillance * Informed Consent Form (ICF) signed by patient and parents (or legal guardian) Exclusion Criteria: * psychological/psychiatric disorders that are decompensated or not efficiently treated * severe and unstable eating disorders (e.g. binge-eating) * signs of addictions or addictive behavior (alcohol or substance abuse) * pregnancy or breastfeeding * life-threatening multisystem organ failure * uncontrolled or metastatic malignancy * uncontrolled HIV infection * hypercarbic respiratory failure * active systemic infection or untreated endocrine dysfunction * diseases threatening in the short term or lack of care (self-care or access to family or social support) * medically correctable causes of obesity