I have read that there is a bug with followers where their stats do not update when you level. I was wanting to build a shaman character that could buff a tank like follower. If the game is bugged in this fashion is there any way to alter the followers stats every time you level so that the follower keeps up?

This can be done with the console right now. Dismiss the follower in question from your service. They'll begin to walk away back to their "home" in the game, tavern, castle, whatever. When they do, open the console, click on them so their ID shows up ("000f42d3c4" or something like that), and then type disable, return, and then enable, return. Close the console and re-hire them and any companion you have should have their stats reset to the proper level to match with yours.

You shouldn't need to remove any items you have equipped them with but you can do so before you do this if you're worried about losing something important. Always save before trying this but it should work without any issues. You can check their stats before/after with the getav command if you want to compare the numbers, ex: getav health OR getav twohanded and so on.

Thank you Urtho

Couldn't you simply use the getav command and then change the value with the setav command? For example: getav lightarmor brings back a value of 65, but you want it to be in the 80s like your skill, so you select the character in the console and type setav lightarmor 85.

Could you do things that way? Yes, but why would you when the process outlined takes a few seconds vs comparing values and changing all of the skills and stats individually one at a time. The companions are supposed to level with you so Bethesda included a built in system for them to do so, they just don't actually do it as of right now because of a bug in the code (supposedly).

@Mar'Tok - you're welcome.