At Longstreet Clinic Center for Weight Management, we are constantly evaluating the latest research of and treatment methods for obesity – and that includes how to help younger patients overcome this challenging disease.
It’s easy to think of obesity as an adult problem, but the numbers prove that excessive weight – and the complicating factors associated with it – is a condition which also affects a significant portion of the youth population. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 21.1% of children aged 2-19 in the United States are obese.
The good news is that research also shows that assistance from medical professionals makes a tangible difference in the lives of overweight youths. With that in mind, Longstreet Clinic providers joined forces with like-minded health professionals at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC), Northeast Georgia Physicians Group, and a pediatric psychologist to construct an adolescent weight loss program in Gainesville.
The program follows much of the same protocols as Longstreet Clinic Center for Weight Management for adults – the difference being that its multi-faceted treatment approaches are tailored specifically for young patients. The resulting clinic has already made a real difference for area youths and has also achieved the highest care standards, including recognition as a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). The MBSAQIP, which was bestowed on the clinic by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) in the summer of 2023, is a professional recognition of the unique and affirmative care on offer.
“We created the program because there was nothing like it in the vicinity,” said Amy Smith, MSN, RN, CBN, program manager. “There’s an adolescent weight loss program at Children’s Health Care of Atlanta (CHOA), but there’s a (long) wait list for patients, and we knew we had plenty of people living here in northeast Georgia that didn’t want to wait or to have to drive that far for care.”
At the Gainesville clinic, care providers see patients as young as age 3 and as old as 18, and these youths receive personalized levels of care depending upon their age and needs. This may include visits with dietitians, psychologists, and/or pediatricians that specialize in weight loss medicine all the way up to bariatric surgeons, and all of it is based on a very intentional and caring approach that involves parents and guardians.
“We have a very structured program that is similar to what they offer at CHOA,” Smith said. “Patients come to see us, and it’s a one-stop shop. The first step is that the child and their parents and/or guardians meet with a dietitian, and then we move on from there.”
Working with a professional dietitian to receive nutritional counseling often brings positive results for patients of varying ages. However, starting at age 12, patients may progress to working with a pediatrician that specializes in medical weight loss care. If, by age 15, a patient requires more aggressive treatment, they may even explore weight loss surgery.
“Not many places will even perform teen bariatric surgery. I think there’s only us, CHOA, and Augusta in the state of Georgia,” Smith said. “All our teenagers must complete a six-month program before they can be considered for bariatric surgery. This program is designed to set up success after surgery. They work with all four of the disciplines: a dietitian, a pediatrician, our psychologist, and even a certified personal trainer.”
And if a teen does undergo bariatric surgery, the patient meets with providers every three months to ensure optimal success.
“That way we can head off any emerging problems before they have a chance to become more serious weight gains,” Smith said.
Smith also says that the presence of in-house psychologist Dr. Megan Ratcliff also makes a big difference for patients and their families.
“Dr. Ratcliff’s experience in bariatrics is huge for the patients. She worked with CHOA and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and she’s just phenomenal,” Smith said. “It comforts the parents that we’ve thought of everything and support the patient and family in every way possible.”
That commitment to care means that the clinic can assist patients with a wide range of concerns, and providers are thrilled to see the results.
“It’s just about finding the right combination of treatment options. We have one teen who has lost 100 pounds after bariatric surgery. We had another who lost 83 pounds just taking oral medication,” Smith said.
Most clinic patients come via referrals from area pediatricians, and program providers have worked hard to increase awareness of the program in the health care community. They do so because they know the difference that professional help can make and the importance of early intervention on lifelong health.
“When our patients have lost weight, they have the most amazing success stories. They gain so much self-confidence,” Smith said. “It’s just amazing to see the success they have, and we’re proud to help them to have it.”
If you would like to know more about our adolescent weight loss clinic, please contact us at 770-219-0446.
