Nearly 20% of children and adolescents in the U.S. have obesity, defined as having a body mass index at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex. If your child has obesity, taking a team approach to care can be effective for losing weight and getting healthier.
The UCLA Fit for Health Program at UCLA Health Mattel Children’s Hospital offers many kinds of treatments aimed at increasing wellness, says Director Vibha Singhal, MBBS, MPH. Dr. Singhal is also the director of obesity medicine in the department of pediatrics at UCLA.
The program’s approach is to give patients simple, tangible goals. “Setting small goals that are individualized for the patient and their family often translates to weight loss and better metabolic health,” Dr. Singhal says.
A team approach
Dr. Singhal notes that obesity can be attributed to many different things. These may include:
- Unhealthy diet
- Lack of activity
- Mood disorders
- Environmental factors
- Psychosocial factors
- Genetics
- Medications
Because of these influences, the program takes a team approach to care. A dietician suggests ways to eat healthier and more mindfully. A social worker and psychologist help with improving mental health, changing behaviors, setting goals and working through conflicts around food.
Obesity medicine physicians evaluate a child’s health and recommend customized treatments. These may include weight-loss medications like glucagon like peptides (GLP-1 analogs) – if appropriate. In addition, surgeons discuss surgical options if the team and family agree that it is the next best approach, says Dr. Singhal. Surgeries include sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgery.
There are no strict age restrictions or criteria for weight-loss surgeries. Each patient is treated as an individual and is offered medical and surgical care that is right for them. If surgery is recommended, most of a child’s weight loss will happen in the first year after surgery. On average, patients who have weight-loss surgery lose 60% of their extra weight after one to two years.
Fit for Health aims to give children the tools they need to live a healthier life. Losing weight through the program can help keep them from getting diseases that can come along with obesity, such as:
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Metabolic syndrome
- Fatty liver disease
- Some cancers
- Breathing problems
- Sleep apnea
Even if a child already has any of these conditions, losing weight can help them from getting worse.
Telemedicine and plans for expansion
The program is always looking for ways to better serve patients and their families, including telemedicine for appointments and addressing social determinants of health that may contribute to pediatric obesity.
For instance, “we currently have a grant to support our families with food insecurity with food packages to help provide healthy nutrition,” Dr. Singhal says.
In addition, the program is looking to expand and provide care in other subspecialty areas, such as cardiology, gastroenterology and nephrology, as well as services for kids with developmental differences.
