Obesity

About 18.5% of American children are obese, which increases their risk of a broad range of health conditions ranging from diabetes to arthritis. If you’re concerned about your child’s weight and health, contact Michael Wood, MD, and our team at MI PEDS in Livonia, Michigan. Dr. Wood is a double board-certified endocrinologist who offers expert diagnosis and treatment for obesity and related health conditions.

Obesity Q & A

What contributes to obesity?

Children and young adults are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI) is at or above the 95th percentile of weight for their age. While BMI is an imperfect measurement, it does provide a general indication of whether you have healthy body weight.

Many factors contribute to childhood obesity. For example, your body requires a certain amount of energy — or calories — during the day. If you consume too many calories or don’t use enough energy consistently, you gain weight, eventually becoming overweight or obese. However, weight gain and loss aren’t simply a matter of calories consumed and calories used.

Your body produces many hormones that help regulate your metabolism and your body’s ability to break down and store different nutrients, including fat and sugar. Some common hormonal issues that contribute to obesity and interfere with weight loss include an under-active thyroid and Cushing’s syndrome.

Additionally, other imbalances in hormones such as estrogen and androgen can lead to polycystic ovary syndrome and also affect your weight.

Why is it important to maintain a healthy weight?

When you or your child is overweight or obese, your risk of many potentially dangerous health conditions increases. For example, children who are obese are more likely to develop:

Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Asthma
Sleep apnea
Fatty liver disease
Joint pain

Obesity can also lead to depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety issues. Childhood obesity can last throughout the rest of your child’s life and cause continuing health problems.

How can a doctor help my child reach a healthy weight?

Dr. Wood and our team at MI PEDS want to help your child lead a healthy, active life. We offer extensive testing to search for signs of hormonal issues that could contribute to your child’s weight issue.

Then, depending on your child’s needs, we offer customized treatment plans to help your child develop healthy habits, lose weight, and improve their overall health and well-being. We can prescribe medication to help regulate hormone levels, boost your child’s metabolism, and reduce their appetite to help them on their weight loss journey.