Center for Pediatric Obesity

We use an evidence-based approach to prevent and treat childhood obesity, offering tailored support and medical management.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 1 in 5 U.S. children and adolescents are living with obesity. The CDC organizes childhood obesity into three classes, with class three being linked to the greatest amount of health complications, such as:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Osteoarthritis and joint problems
• Fatty liver disease
• Sleep apnea

While these health issues are more common in adults, if a child is living with obesity, it can cause these conditions to develop at earlier ages. Through our Center for Pediatric Obesity and related centers and programs, we offer the latest treatments available for childhood obesity.

Pediatric Nutrition

Pediatric Fatty Liver Disease

A growing problem, including for younger children

We are not only seeing an increase in the number of older children and adolescents living with obesity, but also obesity in children younger than six years of age. And perhaps even more concerning is that in addition to this, levels of severe obesity are climbing to higher BMIs.

Child and Teen BMI Calculator

The CDC offers a calculator that reports BMI, BMI percentile and BMI category for children and teens ages 2 through 19.

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A child is considered overweight when their BMI (or body mass index) falls within the 85th and 95th percentiles and obese when their BMI falls in the 95th percentile or above.

As with adults and weight management, kids living with childhood obesity have long faced a stigma. The thinking that if someone just eats less and exercises more, they can control their weight is outdated. Obesity, including for children, is more complicated. Several genetic, environmental, physiological and socioeconomic factors can contribute to childhood obesity.

For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its clinical practice guidelines in recent years for evaluation and management of children and adolescents living with overweight and obesity.

Childhood obesity treatment: Why choose Henry Ford Pediatrics?

• CDC-recognized Healthy Weight Clinic: Our Pediatric Healthy Weight Clinic is 1 of only 5 in the country recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinic participation has been shown to reduce BMI, parental stress and binge eating symptoms, and improve quality of life for patients and their families.
• Expert team: Your child receives care from expert, skilled childhood obesity specialists, including physicians, trained registered nurses, nurse practitioners, registered dietitians and social workers.
• Personalized, family-friendly care plan: After your child’s clinical evaluation and any testing needed, we work with you and your family to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based care plan focused on the specific nutrition issue, with goal-oriented interventional therapies. This includes providing treatment in a child-friendly environment to minimize stress on your child.
• Education and support: When a child or adolescent is living with obesity it can be an ongoing process. Before, during and after treatment, we provide you and your family with effective tools and resources that you can use at home.

Contact Us

Call to make appointments at (866) 434-1373
• Convenience: We offer complete care at our Royal Oak clinic. You’ll find pediatric specialists, testing facilities and procedure rooms, so your family can receive more services under one roof. We are also expanding our pediatric gastroenterology services to additional clinics throughout the region, with our latest new clinic opening at Henry Ford Medical Center – Grosse Pointe. Inpatient admission services as well as endoscopic procedural services are available at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital.
• Innovation: Clinical trials and other research studies help to define the next gold standard of pediatric care, and our team is at the forefront of research. Kids living with childhood obesity is one of our core focus areas. Your child may be able to participate in research and access the latest care methods through our science and learning.

Looking for a second opinion?

If you are receiving services from a community provider, we welcome the opportunity to take part in your child’s care. Offerings include second opinions to confirm a diagnosis or review treatment options. We see new patients promptly, especially when there is an urgent concern.