The Pediatric Obesity Program seeks to prevent and treat childhood obesity through personalized care and family-based promotion of a healthier lifestyle because one size does not fit all.
Our program is comprised of three components, including:
Healthy Lifestyle Clinic
Treating pediatric obesity
Our multidisciplinary Healthy Lifestyle Clinic helps children and adolescents manage their weight. After a comprehensive evaluation on the child’s first visit, we develop a personalized health plan aimed at reducing health complications and improving body composition and fitness. Children in our program follow-up regularly in clinic to monitor progress and receive individualized attention.
Our clinic team includes:
- Pediatricians
- Bariatric surgeon
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurses
- Registered dietitian
- Fitness specialists
- Occupational therapist
- Behavioral health coaches
We Offer:
- Coordinated care by subspecialists within our clinic, including cardiology and sleep medicine
- Evaluation for genetic disorders
- Bariatric surgery for adolescents with severe obesity and obesity-related health conditions
Discovery and Innovation
Learning about contributors of obesity and effective treatments
We are studying the causes of obesity and researching new prevention and treatment strategies. Our goal is to achieve precision medicine through tailored treatment based on genetic and environmental factors.
Our research studies include:
- Studying the biological mechanisms of feeding behavior, body composition, and metabolic disease
- Identifying genetic variants associated with obesity
- Clinical trials of new obesity medications targeting specific genetic variants
- Addressing barriers to achieving a healthier lifestyle in the Mid-South region
Healthy Lifestyle Network
Creating partnerships for a healthier community
Our program’s reach extends into the community. We are currently establishing partnerships with schools, parks and recreation facilities, community centers and local government to develop evidence-based, scalable, and sustainable wellness programs.
Some current and past programs include:
- Development of a Healthy Lifestyle Toolkit to assist primary care providers in counseling families for the prevention and treatment of obesity
- Establishment of an obesity medicine fellowship to train pediatricians for certification by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and to foster the development of future physician leaders in the field of pediatric obesity
