Helping Children and Teens Battling Obesity

More than two-thirds of adults in the U.S. are overweight, and more than 14.7 million children and adolescents are affected by obesity, according to the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Eddie Gomez, MD, FASMBS, FACS, a bariatric surgeon at Jackson South Medical Center, doesn’t need to see the statistics to know that obesity continues to plague our community, especially the younger generation. Every day, he sees patients who are struggling to manage their weight and break the cycle of obesity.

September is National Childhood Obesity Month, and we caught up with Dr. Gomez to understand the unique challenges children and teens experience when struggling with their weight. He also shares his approach to helping them explore weight-loss options, such as weight-loss surgery.

Q: How does obesity affect teenagers differently than adults?
Dr. Gomez: “There are several challenges for children and teens who are overweight or obese. For example, people who struggle with obesity mimic the eating habits of their families, role models, and those they live and spend time with. These individuals also do not usually buy or make their own food, so are more at the mercy of the people caring for them. Due to this unique dynamic, whenever we are helping a child or teen with weight loss, it becomes a family affair.

Unfortunately, teens are very likely to hear comments about their weight and are subject to bullying at school or online. There is discrimination and shaming against people in general who are overweight, but unfortunately for adolescents, they face this judgement during their most formative years.”

Q: What happens when a teenager comes to you for help?
Dr. Gomez: “While I am a surgeon, surgery is always the last option on the table – especially when we are talking about a child or teen. We begin by asking how they have tried to lose weight. We then discuss what they eat and their activity levels. Before anyone goes in for weight-loss surgery, they must meet with a licensed dietician and learn more about changes they can make to help them feel better, live healthier, and reach their goals.

We also stress the different ways they can incorporate more movement into their daily life, which is important for their health and losing weight. In certain cases, we suggest medications that can help our patients reach their goals without surgery.

If someone has tried multiple ways to lose weight without success, and they understand and are committed to the necessary work, we can start to consider other options, including surgery.”

Q: How do you decide if surgery is right for a child or teen?
Dr. Gomez: “The decision as to whether weight-loss surgery is the right option must be made on a case-by-case basis, especially with a child or teen. We take into consideration how overweight they are, health complications due to the weight, what weight-loss options they’ve tried, the support of their caregivers and loved ones, and how committed they are to the process. As we tell everyone who walks through our doors, weight-loss surgery is not a quick fix. It’s a tool that can help jumpstart the weight-loss process. But it’s just the start. To be successful, they must be willing to change their habits and lifestyle and do the work.

The patient then has to meet with a psychologist to ensure they understand the process, and are mentally capable of making this decision. With a child or teen, the caregiver or parent must be involved and go through the process with them.

Q: Based on your experience, what makes the most difference in whether someone succeeds in reaching their weight-loss goals?
Dr. Gomez: “First and foremost, they must want it. They are not losing weight just to see a certain number on the scale, but to be able to be more active, feel better, and feel more confident when they walk into a room. They need to have help, including the support of their caregivers or loved ones who are willing to make sacrifices to buy and eat healthier foods and have regular, set activities. Children and teens are dependent on others, at least from the food aspect, so this is crucial.

Support from other people their age going through a similar journey is also very helpful. That’s why we offer support groups specifically for teens because they are going to be going through different challenges than adults.”

Q: How does weight loss affect children and teens who have battled obesity?
Dr. Gomez: The biggest change I see is the way people come into themselves as a person. When people are severely obese, they often try to fold into themselves because they are unhappy and weighed down by their medical challenges.

The change is especially dramatic for teens. When they come into my office after losing weight, they appear so much more energetic, hopeful, and happy. You see it on their face and in the way they carry themselves. They are also proud of themselves for the changes they’ve made and what they’ve accomplished – even if they haven’t yet hit their final goal. Seeing this change and seeing people become more of their true selves, is why I got into this line of work to begin with it. It’s by far the best part of the job.

To learn more about bariatric surgery options at Jackson Health System, visit https://bariatrics.jacksonhealth.org/.