The offspring of parents undergoing a weight loss surgery: a systematic review.

The offspring of parents with obesity are at an increased risk of developing this condition themselves because of genetic and environmental factors. One subgroup that may be at particularly high risk of developing obesity is the offspring of parents who have undergone weight loss surgery (PWLS). To date, little research has focused on these offspring or their parents. This systematic review addresses this gap by integrating available literature and assessing the quality of the evidence. To be included, studies were required to have researched characteristics of the offspring of PWLS or parental feeding practices within this population. After review, 12 studies met inclusion criteria. Findings include evidence for heightened risk of obesity among children of PWLS. However, research suggests these children may experience positive, although time-limited, health outcomes after their parents' surgeries. Quality of the evidence was rated as low, primarily because of the lack of randomized controlled studies and information regarding available interventions specifically targeting this vulnerable population. This review underscores the need for research to improve understanding of PWLS families to better support them and capitalize on postbariatric surgery benefits.