If your child, teen, or young adult is overweight and you are concerned about their physical or mental health, turn to our pediatric weight management experts. We are a national leader in helping children and teens safely lose weight and embrace a healthy lifestyle.

Eligible children can take part in our medical weight-loss program in Reading and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in downtown Philadelphia.

Helping Children and Teens Reach and Maintain a Healthy Weight

Our medically supervised, nonsurgical weight-loss program provides customized care and support to children of all ages. We also offer adolescent weight-loss surgery at St. Christopher's Hospital for children on a case-by-case basis, starting at age 15.

With our focus on meeting your child’s medical, nutritional, social, and emotional needs, you won’t find a more comprehensive pediatric weight-loss program anywhere else in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

For many children, teens, and young adults, obesity begins at an early age — and is not something they will simply outgrow. Weight problems often follow kids through their teens and into adulthood, when unhealthy habits are harder to break, and obesity-related medical conditions begin to take their toll

Your child or teen may be a candidate for our medical weight-loss program if they have a body mass index (BMI) that is at or above the 85th percentile for their age, and they have not been able to lose weight on their own.

Pediatric and Adolescent Medical Weight Loss Services

Our program brings together doctors, dietitians, and psychologists who have experience working with overweight kids and teens. We create realistic meal and exercise plans tailored to each child’s medical needs and weight-loss goals. And our support services help your child adopt healthy behaviors and stay motivated.

Services we offer include:

  • Counseling. We can help your child work through feelings of anxiety, depression, or isolation, and teach strategies for changing unhealthy behaviors.
  • Exercise planning. Our fitness specialists will help your child discover physical activities that are as enjoyable as they are effective.
  • Meal plans. Our registered dietitians will design a restricted-calorie diet that still provides the nutrition your child needs for proper growth and development.
  • Meal replacement products. We offer meal replacement protein shakes and bars for purchase and can help you add these products into your child’s diet plan.
  • Medical evaluations. We will confirm or rule out underlying conditions that can cause weight gain in children. These include hypothyroidism, hormone abnormalities, and genetic disorders.
  • Medicine. In certain circumstances, we can prescribe FDA-approved obesity medications to teens. When combined with a proper diet and exercise, these medicines may help enhance weight loss.
  • Nutrition counseling. We will teach your child the basics of healthy eating, including how to read food labels and how to monitor their daily calorie intake.
  • Referrals for specialty care. If your child needs help managing any medical conditions, we can provide referrals to pediatric specialists.
  • Support groups. Our free support groups are a great way for kids to meet with and learn from other kids who also struggle with their weight.

Pediatric and Adolescent Medical Weight Loss Team

Our pediatric weight-loss specialists understand the unique challenges that overweight children face. We are committed to helping your child lose weight while gaining self-confidence — and taking the first steps toward better lifelong health.

Members of our pediatric medical weight-loss team include:

  • Nurses and advanced practice providers. Our registered nurses and other clinical providers offer education and guidance throughout your child’s weight-loss journey.
  • Obesity medicine physicians. Doctors who specialize in treating childhood obesity.
  • Registered dietitians. Professionals who specialize in food and nutrition.

Pediatric and Adolescent Weight Loss Surgery FAQs

For St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

What are the routine tests before surgery?

Before surgery, basic tests are completed, including Complete Blood Count (CBC), Urinalysis, Chemistry Panel, and a vitamin/mineral level check. Other tests may include echocardiograms, sleep studies, GI evaluations, cardiology evaluations, or psychological evaluations.

What is the purpose of routine tests?

An accurate assessment of your child of teen's health is needed for their safety before weight loss surgery. If your child or teen has diabetes, certain steps may be taken to control blood sugar. These tests will determine liver problems, breathing difficulties, excess fluid in the tissues, abnormalities of the salts or minerals in body fluids, or abnormal blood fat levels.

Why do some patients need a GI evaluation?

Patients with significant gastrointestinal symptoms, such as upper abdominal pain, heartburn, or belching, may have underlying problems such as a hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux, or peptic ulcer that our team will identify and treat.

Why do some patients need to have a sleep study?

The sleep study detects a tendency to stop breathing during sleep. Usually, this is associated with airway narrowing from excess fatty tissue in the airway. If severe enough, a person will be asked to use a mask attached to a breathing machine to keep their airway open when sleeping.

Why do patients need a psychological evaluation?

Participating in a weight loss program and undergoing surgery is a major lifestyle change for most people. Our psychologists will evaluate your child or teen’s understanding and knowledge of the risks and complications associated with weight loss surgery and their ability to follow the basic recovery plan. Psychological evaluation is a requirement for most health insurance companies.

Does weight loss surgery change the ability to have children?

Losing weight with weight loss surgery can resolve polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in young women and increase pregnancy possibilities. We suggest female teens use a form of birth control for at least the first year after surgery. Weight loss before pregnancy makes the pregnancy safer for the child and mother. 

Is weight loss surgery covered by insurance?

Yes. Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance companies all cover weight loss surgery. Please call your insurance company to verify the benefits in your policy. If you are still unsure about coverage, call the billing office for the facility you visited and we can assist you.

What can I do before the initial appointment to speed up the process?
  • Please make a list of all the diets you have tried (a diet history) and bring it to your child or teen's doctor.
  • Bring any pertinent medical data to your child or teen's appointment with the surgeon, including reports of special tests (echocardiogram, sleep study, etc.) or a hospital discharge summary if your child or teen has been in the hospital.
  • Bring a list of your child of teen's medications, with the doses and schedule.
  • Avoid smoking, vaping or any tobacco use.