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Rady Children's Specialists

Weight & Wellness Center

The Weight and Wellness Center, under the direction of Jeffrey Schwimmer, M.D., manages child and adolescent obesity through safe and personalized treatments. Our multidisciplinary team is dedicated to reducing the health burden of obesity in children, with a focus on reasonable and achievable goals.

About Obesity

Obesity has become the most common chronic health condition of childhood. Obesity can be defined as having a body weight placing one at significantly increased risk for health problems. Alternatively, obesity may be considered as being more than 20 percent above the healthy weight range for one’s age and gender. This is determined by measuring your child’s height and weight and calculating the body mass index or BMI.

A child is considered obese when his or her BMI is above the 95th percentile. Children who meet the criteria for obesity are commonly diagnosed with serious health problems, including obstructive sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and orthopedic problems. For a majority of obese children, their condition will persist into adulthood without treatment, leading to higher rates of disease, higher healthcare costs, and a shortened life expectancy. We encourage parents to discuss these issues with their child’s primary care physician.

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