Two teenagers from Sussex have had fat-fighting surgery on the NHS.

Health bosses offered the under-18s the operations as a last resort to help them get their weight under control.

The revelation has sparked concerns from campaign groups, who say it is an indication of the county’s growing obesity problem.

Further details of the teenagers have not been revealed by NHS Sussex but the operations are believed to have involved 17-year-olds.

The surgery, which costs up to £5,000, was provided in the past three years.

A spokesman for NHS Sussex said: “Weight loss surgery is considered in children or young people only in exceptional circumstances where they have achieved, or nearly achieved, physiological maturity.

“For people under 18, a doctor can make an individual funding request (IFR) on behalf of their patient.

“This request is then evaluated by a specialist panel, led by clinicians, that considers every IFR application carefully, taking into account the particular circumstances of the patient.

“A comprehensive psychological, education, family and social assessment is undertaken before any decision to undergo surgery is taken.

“Each decision is taken on an individual basis by experienced clinicians, ensuring that every penny of public money is spent wisely.”

Obesity is expected to cost Sussex more than £460 million a year by 2015.

It can lead to a wide range of serious medical problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, cancer and diabetes.

Other patients need hip and knee replacements as their bodies struggle to bear their weight.

It is the second biggest preventable cause of death in the country, behind smoking.

A spokesman for the Patient Action Group in Sussex said: “It seems a bit surprising to be offering this to people so young.

“We know there is a problem with obesity but it is really important that we get children eating well and being active from an early age so they don’t have to go through this.”

Latest figures show 426 men and women were admitted to hospitals across Sussex for gastric band and other weight loss operations last year, a 7% rise on the year before.

About 8% of four- and five-year-olds and 16% of ten- and 11-year-olds in Sussex are classed as obese.

Gastric banding, where an adjustable band is placed around the stomach, or more serious gastric bypass surgery, are the two most common obesity operations.