Weight Management
Comprehensive, physician-led care designed for younger patients, combining medical expertise, nutrition support, and today's most effective treatments.
Teens and young adults aren’t simply smaller versions of adult patients. Their bodies are still developing, their nutritional needs are different, and weight-related health concerns can begin during adolescence.
That’s why weight management for younger patients should be designed specifically for them, with attention to growth, nutrition, overall health, and the medical conditions that can accompany excess weight.
A different approach
Weight management during adolescence needs to support healthy growth while ensuring patients continue to receive the protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients they need.
Excess weight can be associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, abnormal cholesterol, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, and other concerns. Comprehensive care looks beyond the scale.
Certain GLP-1 medications are FDA-approved for weight management beginning at age 12. Choosing the right treatment, adjusting the dose, managing side effects, and monitoring overall health should be individualized.
The goal isn’t simply to eat less. Young people need appropriate nutrition to support growth, muscle, bone health, energy, and overall well-being, particularly when medication reduces appetite.
What the research shows
The treatment of adolescent obesity has changed significantly. We now have clinical trials specifically involving teenagers, FDA-approved medications for adolescents, and updated recommendations supporting medical treatment when appropriate.
Adolescents receiving once-weekly semaglutide (Wegovy) plus lifestyle treatment experienced an average 16.1% reduction in BMI in a major 68-week clinical trial.
Nearly three out of four adolescents receiving semaglutide achieved at least 5% weight loss, compared with 18% receiving placebo and lifestyle treatment.
Certain weight-management medications are FDA-approved beginning at age 12. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends considering medication for appropriate adolescents with obesity as part of comprehensive treatment.
Results vary, and medication isn’t appropriate for every patient. But the evidence shows medical treatment can provide meaningful benefits for appropriately selected adolescents.
A medical condition
Obesity isn’t simply a matter of willpower or eating less. Body weight is influenced by genetics, biology, appetite regulation, environment, behavior, sleep, medications, and other factors. For some young people, nutrition and lifestyle changes alone may not be enough.
Major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recognize obesity as a chronic medical condition and support a comprehensive approach that can include nutrition, physical activity, behavioral support, and medication when appropriate.
The goal isn’t simply a lower number on the scale. Reaching a healthier weight can also improve important measures of health and may reduce future risks. Depending on the patient, we may evaluate and address:
The WellTeenMD approach
Every patient is evaluated and followed by a board-certified pediatric gastroenterologist.
Individual visits with a nutritionist or registered dietitian are included to provide personalized nutritional guidance throughout treatment.
GLP-1 and other weight-management medications may be incorporated into an individualized plan when medically appropriate.
We follow progress, nutrition, medication response, side effects, and overall health and adjust treatment as needed.
Without judgment
Weight can be an especially sensitive subject during adolescence and young adulthood. Our approach is supportive and individualized. We want patients to understand their treatment, participate in their care, and feel comfortable discussing their health without judgment.
The goal isn’t simply weight loss. It’s helping each patient achieve better health and develop habits that can carry into adulthood.
A healthier path forward
If your teen or young adult has struggled with weight, WellTeenMD offers a medically supervised program built specifically for them.
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