bariatric surgery

The autopsy report shows she had a small bowel obstruction caused by scar tissue that formed in her intestine. It's a known but rare risk of bariatric surgeries.

Maria Caprigno was one of the youngest people in the U.S. to get the surgery. As parents and doctors grapple with the obesity treatment for teens, Caprigno cites the long-term benefits.

Experts now say the procedure is the most effective treatment for severe childhood obesity, which affects a growing number of kids. But stigma and insurers often stand in the way.

Earlier studies suggested that most people put the pounds back on, but a large study that followed people for a decade after bariatric surgery found that the vast majority avoided gaining weight.

Bariatric surgery has a good track record in combating the health risks of obesity. But new health exchanges in Mississippi and other Southern states won't pay for it, even though those states have some of the nation's highest rates of obesity.