kidsgastrodoc

08/27/2026

Study in NEJM “Simulation of Growth Trajectories of Childhood Obesity into Adulthood”
The striking finding: as children with severe obesity got older, the likelihood of reaching a non-obese weight by age 35 became progressively smaller—only about 6% for 19-year-olds with severe obesity.
I wouldn’t say childhood weight “determines” adult weight or health. Better:
A child’s weight trajectory is one of the strongest predictors of their weight and metabolic health as an adult—but early treatment can change that trajectory.

Ward ZJ, et al. N Engl J Med. 2017;377:2145–2153. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1703860.

08/26/2026

Check out the link in my bio to learn more about ThriveWell Kids

08/26/2026

08/17/2026

Teens are not just smaller adults when it comes to GLP-1 therapy.

A few things need different consideration:

• Growth + development — height, BMI percentile and growth trajectory matter.
• Nutrition — appetite suppression in a growing teen requires attention to protein, micronutrients and overall intake.
• Mental health + body image — screening for disordered eating, anxiety and depression matters.
• Metabolic health — blood pressure, lipids, glucose and liver health should be monitored.
• GI + gallbladder symptoms — nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain and gallstones need appropriate follow-up.

GLP-1s are evidence-based in adolescents, but pediatric treatment requires pediatric monitoring.


(AAP Pediatrics 2023; Weghuber et al., NEJM 2022; FDA Wegovy PI)

08/14/2026

So what exactly do GLP-1 medications do — especially in teens?

GLP-1 medications work on the biology of appetite. They act on pathways in the brain involved in hunger and fullness and can slow gastric emptying, helping teens feel fuller and reducing hunger and energy intake.¹

And we have pediatric data.

In the STEP TEENS trial, adolescents with obesity treated with semaglutide plus lifestyle intervention had significantly greater reductions in BMI than those receiving lifestyle intervention alone.² Liraglutide has also demonstrated efficacy in adolescents with obesity.³

But here’s the part I think we need to talk about more:

A GLP-1 is a tool. It is not the whole treatment plan.

It doesn’t teach your teen how to nourish their body.

It doesn’t build an exercise routine they can sustain.

It doesn’t fix inadequate sleep.

And it doesn’t address stress, body image, emotional eating, or their relationship with food.

That’s why pediatric obesity care should be comprehensive — medication when appropriate, alongside nutrition, movement, behavioral support, and ongoing medical care. The AAP specifically recommends pharmacotherapy as an adjunct to health behavior and lifestyle treatment, not a replacement for it.⁴ (American Academy of Pediatrics)

The medication can help change the biology.
We still have to care for the whole teen.

Follow for evidence-based conversations about GLP-1s and weight management specifically for teens.

Sources:
¹ AAP Clinical Practice Guideline, Pediatrics, 2023.
² Weghuber et al., NEJM, 2022 (STEP TEENS).
³ Kelly et al., NEJM, 2020.
⁴ AAP Clinical Practice Guideline, pediatrics, 2023.

08/14/2026

08/12/2026

You’re not doing anything wrong.

Adolescent weight is strongly influenced by genetics, biology, and metabolism — not simply willpower.

No amount of “parenting harder” was going to change that.

But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to help your child.

It may simply mean that the tool you’ve been missing is medical.

We now have evidence-based medical options for adolescent weight management, including medication when appropriate.

If you want to learn what those options could look like for your teen, click the link in my bio to book a free call.

Sources: AAP Clinical Practice Guideline (Pediatrics, 2023); Loos & Yeo (Nat Rev Genet, 2022); Weghuber et al. (NEJM, 2022); Kelly et al. (NEJM, 2020).

08/11/2026

Obesity during adolescence isn’t just about weight—it can have consequences that extend well into adulthood.

The data are compelling:

• Adolescents with obesity are about 5× more likely to have obesity as adults.
• Higher childhood BMI has been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease later in life.
• In one long-term study, individuals who had excess weight in childhood that persisted into adulthood had a 5.4× higher risk of type 2 diabetes and 2.7× higher risk of hypertension compared with those who maintained a healthy weight.
• A study following 2.3 million adolescents found that adolescent overweight and obesity were strongly associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in adulthood.

But there’s an important—and hopeful—part of the story:

Research also suggests that children with overweight or obesity who reach adulthood without obesity can have cardiovascular risk profiles similar to people who were never obese.

That’s why early intervention matters.

This isn’t about appearance.
It isn’t about shame.
It’s about recognizing obesity as a chronic disease and protecting a child’s long-term health.

Sources:
Simmonds et al., Obesity Reviews, 2016
Juonala et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2011
Twig et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2016
Park et al., Obesity Reviews, 2012

08/10/2026

Finding real weight-loss support for teens shouldn’t be this hard.

Hospital-based weight management programs can take months — sometimes even longer — to get into. And most virtual weight-loss programs were built for adults, not for kids and teens who are still growing and have very different medical and nutritional needs.

I got tired of seeing families stuck with nowhere to go.

So I built the program I wished I could send them to.

ThriveKids GI Care provides virtual, physician-led weight management for California teens and young adults ages 12–21, including GLP-1 treatment when medically appropriate, nutrition guidance, and ongoing monitoring.

Care designed for teens. Led by a pediatric specialist. From the comfort of home.

🔗 Click the link in my bio to book a FREE call and learn more.

PediatricHealth CaliforniaParents ThriveKidsGICare

02/16/2026

Engaged to my best friend and I couldn’t be happier ❤️💍