Adolescent Program

Facts on Childhood Obesity
Nationally, child obesity rates have doubled in the past two decades, and teen obesity rates have tripled.

The major issue is that overweight children tend to become overweight teens, and an overweight teen has an 80% chance of becoming an overweight adult. Obesity is associated with serious medical problems and decreased lifespan.

Our Adolescent Program
Our “TLC” (Teen Lifestyle Changes) program opened in 2008.

Our mission is to encourage young people to live healthier lifestyles and to provide them with the resources needed in support of this process.

Our goal is to empower teens to make changes while offering them a comfortable and supportive environment in which to seek treatment, education and encouragement.

Calculating BMI for age percentile

Please find your adolescent’s BMI for age percentile on the charts below.” After BMI is calculated, the BMI number is plotted on the BMI for age girls or boys growth charts to obtain a percentile ranking. Percentiles are the most commonly used indicator to assess the size and growth patterns of children in the U.S. The percentile indicates the relative position of the childs BMI number to other children of the same sex and age. The growth charts also show the weight status categories used with children and teens.

Girls Chart

Boys Chart

Underweight—BMI less than the 5th percentile
Healthy Weight—BMI 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
Overweight—BMI 85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile
Obese—BMI equal to or greater than the 95th percentile

Options for Teens
Carolinas Weight Management & Wellness Center has two pathways in which to choose from—the medical pathway and the surgical pathway.

Medical Pathway
Your initial evaluation will be conducted by specialized medical staff with subsequent visits with members of the medical team. Medical pathway patients will also consult with the team’s dietitian and exercise specialist. Adolescent patients may benefit from individual counseling or family group therapy. The combination of individual and group sessions are designed to follow current guidelines on effective interventions for long lasting lifestyle changes, weight loss and weight loss maintenance.

Surgical Pathway
Our adult surgical pathway has been in place since 2006. We are in the process of further designing the program to include an adolescent arm.

Adolescents who are greater than 16 years of age and have completed their bone growth may be a candidate for a surgical procedure for weight loss.

Adolescents and their parents or guardian have the opportunity to learn about the surgical options for weight loss and have their questions answered by a surgeon.

The initial consultation will be conducted by one of our fellowship trained surgeons who specialize in minimally invasive surgical techniques. These techniques may lead to less postoperative pain and an earlier return to full activities. You will enter a comprehensive program designed to prepare you for weight loss surgery.