If you think it's difficult to be overweight as an adult, you haven't been overweight as a child.
Children are embarrassed by extra pounds to the point where they prefer to stay away from other kids, to be home-schooled and to stay inside much of the time, said one area pediatrician.
They may even be ashamed to be seen, while ridicule or bullying because of their weight could be part of their lives.
It doesn't have to be that way, because help can be found at the new Tower Health Weight Loss Surgery and Wellness Center at 1220 Broadcasting Road in Spring Township. There, the Healthy Teens program addresses those issues and makes prevention a priority.
"A lot of times people with obesity are just blamed, but obesity is a chronic disease and we take away that blame," said Dr. Renee Riddle, a pediatrician and director of Tower Health's Healthy Teens program.
The Healthy Teens program is one of only a few programs in the state for young people and focuses on developing realistic plans to reach a healthier weight through education and support.
Dr. Stephan Myers is the medical director for the Weight Loss Surgery and Wellness Center.
The specialized facility can give clients all the weight loss care they need in one location, Myers said.
The new wellness center has a teaching kitchen, a free clothing closet to supplement patient's clothing while they're losing weight, and a new fitness center.
The medical staff is specially trained and certified in obesity medicine.
"If we can get kids early, before they go into adulthood obese, hopefully we can change the pattern of their lives," Riddle said. "If we can intervene, we can change that future and reduce all those secondary health issues that come about because of obesity."
Building confidence in the kids and keeping their motivation high will help them be successful, Riddle said.
"They need to be in an environment that supports them, not judges them," Riddle said. "We want to give them the tools to modify their lifestyle."
When looking at diet and healthy behaviors, nutritionists have a few numbers for teens to follow: 5-2-1-0.
That translates to five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, less than two hours of screen time per day, one hour of physical activity and zero sugary beverages.
Sugary drinks like carbonated sodas are relatively easy to cut out from your diet, Riddle said, and at the same time, have a high impact.
The amount of sugar in a beverage can be higher than the sugar content of some baked goods.
Dr. Renee Riddle is a pediatrician and director of Tower Health's Healthy Teens program.
When Riddle speaks with teens and adolescents who come to the clinic, many agree that giving up sugary beverages and not eating out as often would be two of the easiest habits to give up.
The program doesn't have a set curriculum, but seeks to help each client individually.
"At the initial interview, we see where they're at, and what they're struggling with, then set up a plan to see what works for them, "Riddle said.
That might include blood work, speaking with a psychologist, or working with a dietician to re-structure some eating attitudes.
Reasons for being overweight may vary from individual to individual, but obesity is still a chronic disease, Riddle said.
Interest in the healthy teen program is high, Riddle said.
Initially, the program was offered to 13- to 17-year-olds, but now is open to any age.
No set time limit exists with the flexible program, Riddle said, and follow-up visits may be a part of the plan, too, just as they would be with any chronic disease.
Researchers have projected that by the year 2030, nearly one in two adults will be obese and nearly one in four will be severely obese.
Since 1990, the prevalence of obesity in the United States has doubled.
"There is a much greater chance of being obese now than 30 years ago," Riddle said. "When I first started training, you rarely heard of Type 2 diabetes in young kids, but that's changed. We're seeing younger and younger kids with diabetes."
Reasons may include a diet high in sugar, fat, and salt; more highly-processed foods; a sedentary lifestyle; bigger portions; and snacking throughout the day.
The new Tower Health Weight Loss and Wellness Center has a teaching kitchen, a free clothing closet to supplement patient's clothing while they're losing weight and a new fitness center.
Teens have a better chance of modifying their lifestyle and therefore, their weight, if they are reached early; in not, they may go into adulthood being obese.
"We stress that it isn't appearance, but their health that we're concerned about," Riddle said. "We do begin with checking their level of interest because it is a tough change to make. We sort of help them get ready to change their lifestyle patterns."
As a pediatrician, Riddle will conduct a motivational interview to see where the kids are at, how motivated they may be to change habits, and what exactly they are willing to change.
"It has to be very specific," Riddle said. "We can't just say 'eat better.' It has to be something like 'eat one vegetable today.'
"If they see some success, they become more motivated," Riddle said. "I can't make suggestions that are un-doable because that would be just setting them up to fail."
Bariatric surgery might be a consideration.
While there's no current age minimum for bariatric surgery, at Reading, this weight-loss surgery is not performed on anyone younger than 15.
"Even with bariatric surgery, they won't be successful without lifestyle changes," Riddle said.
Anyone considering the surgery would have to meet minimum requirements, such as a body mass index greater than 35.
Another angle of obesity is that no one wants to talk about it, and that's not helping, Riddle said.
"For too long, people have been afraid to bring it up, because they didn't want to embarrass anyone, but we're not afraid to tell people if they have high blood pressure, and there are health consequences to obesity, too," Riddle said. "You can do it in a nice way, like saying: 'I see you're struggling with your weight.'"
In the future, the Tower Health center hopes to add more group gatherings for their teen program, such as sessions on healthy cooking or an exercise area, where teens can feel comfortable exercising with other teens who share their concerns.
Contact Marylouise Sholly: specialsections@readingeagle.com.
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Teen health is focus of new weight loss center at Tower Health - Reading Eagle
