Being overweight is challenging for anyone, but especially for children and adolescents.
Currently 1 in every 3 child in the United States is overweight or obese, a rate that has tripled in the past 30 years!
As parents, we worry about the impact of excess weight on our children’s health. Obesity increases the risk for many serious medical conditions such as:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Irregular periods
- Sleep apnea
- Joint pain
- Depression
We know that treating childhood weight concerns at a young age is the best way to set the stage for a healthy adulthood. However, treatment requires a plan, and working with a comprehensive team of experts in medicine, nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral health has proven to be the most successful approach.
Helping Children Live Healthier Lives Into Adulthood
If your child is struggling with excess weight, WakeMed Pediatric Weight Management can be a great resource for you and your family. We help children from 6 months to 18 years achieve a healthier weight with the goal of reducing weight-related complications and improving your child’s long-term health.
Your First Appointment: What to Expect
Your child’s first appointment will include a medical and dietary evaluation by one of our weight management pediatricians and a registered dietitian. After the initial visit, your child will continue to have monthly visits with either our dietitian, psychologist or pediatrician while working on achievable lifestyle goals.
A Comprehensive & Inclusive Plan for a Healthier Life
The physician will review lab work, address weight related health conditions, and formulate an overall weight management plan. Our dietitians will guide your family in setting dietary or physical activity goals to get your family started immediately with making healthy lifestyle changes together.
Our psychologist will address common behavioral health issues related to excess weight, such as:
- Sleep difficulties
- Bullying and teasing
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Low-self esteem
- Emotional eating
Depending on your child’s physical activity plan, your child can also participate in our 12 week community-based ENERGIZE! exercise program or personal training.
Teenagers who are at high risk for health complications may have more intensive weight management options available to them through our program, including: calorie counting, meal replacements, medications, or weight loss surgery.
Adolescent Weight loss Surgery
Our Adolescent Weight loss Surgery Program is an option for teenagers who are 18 years or older and who have a body mass index greater than 40 kg/m2, a calculation based on your child’s height and weight as well as health problems.
Your child can enter the program at any point in time but has to be in our medical program for at least 6-12 months with unsuccessful weight loss to qualify for surgery.
Our pediatric surgeon offers safe surgical options that result in significant long-term weight loss and reverses many weight related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.
Contact Us About Pediatric Weight Management
Obesity can be a very challenging and complex disease, so we strive to provide all the necessary resources to see your child succeed in achieving life-long health, with treatment plans that best meet your families needs.
Call 919-235-6439 to make an appointment, or ask your pediatrician to place a referral.
About Samareh Hill, MD
Dr. Samareh Hill is a board certified pediatrician with WakeMed Physician Practices. she serves as the Medical Director for Pediatric Weight Management and the ENERGIZE! Program. Her professional interests include research on childhood obesity and developing community programs and partnerships aimed at preventing childhood and adolescent obesity.
Request a Pediatric Weight Management appointment today.
About George Wadie, MD
Dr. George Wadie is a board-certified surgeon with WakeMed Physician Practices Pediatric Surgery and a pediatric surgeon at WakeMed Health & Hospitals. He has experience in pediatric surgery in the United States and Cairo, Egypt. Dr. Wadie specializes in performing adolescent weight loss surgery, and the cleft lift procedure to treat Pilonidal disease.
Request an appointment with Dr. Wadie today.
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