Obesity and weight management care for children

Learn how our Gastroenterology, Liver and Nutrition Program cares for children with obesity and weight management concerns.

• What is obesity?

Related tests and treatments:

• Blood tests
• Fibroscan
• Lifestyle education intervention
• Medication
• Bariatric (weight loss) surgery

Our approach to obesity and weight management

At Children’s Wisconsin, we work with families to help children achieve a healthy weight through physical exercise and diet modifications. Energy balance is key because a child who consumes more calories than he or she burns is on the path to potentially lifelong health consequences.

We know it’s not always easy for a child to lose weight, and we’re here to offer all the support and resources you need. Our multidisciplinary team includes pediatric gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, dieticians and nurse practitioners who specialize in obesity, ensuring that your child will receive comprehensive care.

Obesity services we offer

We can help with everything from initial diagnosis to a customized treatment plan to ongoing management of your child’s weight and any other health concerns. Our services include:

• Advanced testing to screen for related health conditions
• Nutritional counseling
• Physical exercise program
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Medication (FDA approved for 12 years and older)
• Bariatric surgery

Diagnosing and treating obesity

The first step is to measure your child’s weight and height. If those results show that your child is overweight or obese, your child’s doctor may recommend additional tests to screen for related health problems, such as high cholesterol, elevated liver enzymes, insulin resistance or high blood pressure.

Our team of experts will provide a customized care plan designed specifically for your child, because no single program will work for every child and family. Our primary goal is to help your child establish both a healthier lifestyle and eating habits. A dietician will educate your family on lifestyle choices that impact your child’s health and will help you make choices that can help improve health problems.

If your child’s health has not improved after following lifestyle changes, medication, in children 12 years of age and up based on FDA and AAP recommendations, may be discussed and after six months of following your health are providers’ recommendations, your medical team may suggest a referral for surgical options.