According to a study in May's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery., the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 80 percent of patients were satisfied with their results and 86 percent would recommend the procedure to family or friends.

"Liposuction is one of the most satisfying procedures for patients and most effective at eliminating localized fat," said ASPS Spokesperson Jeffrey Kenkel, MD, study co-author, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. "The majority of patients recognize their role in maintaining positive results and pursue a healthy diet and exercise. These patients typically maintain or lose weight after surgery, while those that do not may gain small amounts of weight. Ultimately, one's lifestyle can affect long term-results."

According to the study, approximately 57 percent of patients reported no weight change after having liposuction - 46 percent of these patients actually reported a weight loss, losing an average of five to 10 pounds in less than six months. Forty-three percent of patients reported gaining weight, with the majority gaining between five and 10 pounds more than six months after surgery.

Fifty-five percent of patients reported an average decrease of three dress sizes after liposuction. Thirty-five percent said their clothing size did not change.

Thirty-three percent of patients reported exercising more after the procedure, while 58 percent had no change in their exercise regimen. In addition, 44 percent reported eating a healthy diet, while 53 percent reported eating the same.

More than 323,600 liposuction procedures were performed in 2005, according to ASPS statistics. In this study, the thighs and abdomen were the most common liposuctioned areas, followed by the hips, buttocks and knees.

This study received a Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation (PSEF) Scientific Essay award. The award is given for excellence in study design, writing, research and clinical findings.

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Professor Wardle advises parents whose teenage child is significantly overweight to handle the issue in a sensitive way, avoiding criticism and focusing on concerns over future weight gain rather than their existing weight.

She also said making healthy eating easier at home could help adolescents and a good diet which includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and high fibre foods like wholemeal bread would benefit teens.

It is also important to encourage children to take regular exercise. Playing sports or running in the park are healthier occupations than playing computer games, says Wardle.

The findings were less clear cut for economic status. 35% of the most deprived girls were overweight or obese compared with 28% of other girls, but other economic categories showed less consistency.

The authors say that it is clear that children who are obese when they enter secondary school will very likely leave it obese, and more monitoring is crucial if rising tides of obesity are to be tackled effectively.