Children who weigh more than is healthy for their age are at risk for serious health problems.  The Pediatric Weight Management Clinic at University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview helps children achieve healthier lifestyles by helping children address the medical, nutritional and emotional issues related to weight.

Many of the health problems that affect adults begin in childhood and relate to obesity, including diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.  These conditions often "run in families," but they are also strongly influenced by a child's pattern of activity and nutrition.

Weight management and lifestyle changes are often challenging for individuals of any age.  At the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic at University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview, we help our patients make steady progress by encouraging small, positive steps.

While weight reduction is important, not every child loses weight each week.  Increasing activity and eating healthy foods are important goals that not only help a child achieve a healthy weight, but also establish healthy lifelong patterns.  Some children may need more help to be successful.

What to Expect

At the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic, your child will have a medical evaluation (a history and physical exam) to determine if he or she has a hormonal cause of weight gain.  Complications of being overweight will also be assessed.  Our physicians may conduct tests to complete this part of the evaluation, which may extend over one to three visits.

After the evaluation, we will help you and your child set achievable goals around nutrition and activity.  It is important that these be small, very concrete goals that your child can focus on and accomplish in two weeks.  It is also important that at least one parent, or other adult in the household, commit to supporting the child in attaining these goals.

Subsequent visits will occur about every four weeks to assess progress and set new goals for the coming weeks.