Definitely. Speaking from personal experience, I was a overweight child from the start. 5''5 and 230 in middle school throughout high school it just got worse.Diabetes,high blood pressure the whole thing. And finally at 22 years old, on this Thursday i am getting this surgery. I would have gave ANYTHING to have this surgery at 13 years old. It would have saved me from taking all this medicine, all my personal heartache when I was too at risk to do anything productive and too fat to wear the trendy. It would have saved me from bullies and being the fat fun girl. I know my life will be given a second chance on thursday, but for your son, he still has a shot for his first one. As long as he wants it, I think he should get it.