Family healthy-weight programs
Intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment combines nutrition, activity, and behavior support with caregiver involvement. Strong programs offer at least 26 contact hours over 3–12 months.
CHILDREN, TEENS & FAMILIES
Healthy growth.
A supported family.
Understand the numbers, protect confidence, and find appropriate care for your child’s stage of life.
01 / Understanding growth
Children are growing. Their care is different.
Children need nutrition for growth, learning, play, and development. A child’s weight assessment uses their growth pattern and overall health—not adult BMI cutoffs or appearance.
For ages 2–19, BMI is interpreted using age- and sex-specific percentiles. For children younger than 2, clinicians use infant growth assessments rather than these BMI categories.
02 / Pediatric classification
What do the percentiles mean?
| Ages 2–19: screening category | BMI-for-age range |
|---|---|
| Underweight | Below the 5th percentile |
| Healthy weight range | 5th to below the 85th percentile |
| Overweight | 85th to below the 95th percentile |
| Obesity | 95th percentile or higher |
| Severe obesity | At least 120% of the 95th percentile, or BMI ≥35 kg/m² |
Expanded severe-obesity classes use class 2 thresholds of 120% to below 140% of the 95th percentile or BMI 35 to below 40, and class 3 thresholds of at least 140% or BMI ≥40. Clinicians apply the appropriate age-specific thresholds and growth charts.
“120% of the 95th percentile” is not a 120th percentile. A calculator and clinician are needed to interpret it correctly.
Open CDC’s child & teen BMI calculator ↗Explore the evidenceCDC · Child and teen BMI categories ↗
03 / The whole child
Ask about health, development, and wellbeing.
A child’s clinician may review blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, liver health, sleep symptoms, joint pain, menstrual concerns, mood, bullying, and disordered eating. Which tests are appropriate depends on age, symptoms, BMI category, and other risk factors.
Bring a growth history, medication list, sleep concerns, family health history, and your child’s own questions. Early assessment can identify health needs and connect your family with support.
04 / Family-centered treatment
Build health together.
Medication evaluation
For eligible adolescents age 12 and older with obesity, clinicians may offer medication alongside lifestyle treatment. Age alone does not establish eligibility; product labeling, risks, growth, and family preferences matter.
Specialist surgical evaluation
Adolescents age 13 and older with severe obesity may be referred to a comprehensive pediatric metabolic and bariatric center. Referral is for evaluation, not an automatic decision to have surgery.
Coordinated follow-up
A pediatrician, obesity specialist, dietitian, and behavioral-health clinician may work together. Care should support nutrition, growth, development, and emotional wellbeing.
Medication examples with pediatric indications include orlistat, liraglutide, semaglutide, and phentermine/topiramate for selected patients age 12+. Rare genetic obesity may have separate targeted treatments and specialist criteria. This list is educational, not a prescribing recommendation.
05 / A supportive home
Start with one family routine.
- Enjoy regular meals together when possible, with varied foods and water available.
- Choose movement your child enjoys—play, walking, dancing, sports, or adapted activity.
- Agree on a consistent sleep routine and practical limits on sedentary screen time.
- Talk about what bodies can do, rather than commenting on size or praising weight loss.
- Ask for help if there is bullying, food insecurity, distress, or difficulty accessing safe places to play.
Do not put a child on a restrictive weight-loss diet or use adult calorie goals without professional guidance. Growth and health goals should be individualized with the child’s clinician.
A next step that fits you
Bring your questions.
We’ll start there.
Ask the practice about eligibility, available services, costs, and whether your concerns can be assessed by telehealth. Pediatric care, dietitian services, and procedures are not confirmed as available through this practice; specialist evaluation may be needed.
General education, not a diagnosis, prescription, or complete list of risks. Treatment and drug approvals can change. Your clinician should check current labeling and your health history. Do not start, stop, or change medicine based on this guide. Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency.
Ready to take the next step?
Find your registration and intake forms, visit fees and insurance, and first-visit preparation guide.