Helping Kids Find a Healthier Weight

Not being at a healthy weight can make anyone, especially kids, feel unhappy and even depressed. Their self-esteem can fall while their health risks rise, and these issues can persist into adulthood. It’s a situation that leaves parents searching for solutions and support.

That’s where AdventHealth for Children comes in. Our team of specialists understands all aspects of weight loss and management for teens and children. We can help your child achieve and maintain a healthy weight while avoiding associated physical and mental health concerns.

Our weight loss and management program has another essential component: wellness. We help your child move into the future as a healthy, happy adult. Our program works because we talk to kids without jargon or judgment. And also because we care for their whole health — body, mind and spirit.

Weight Management Program Overview: Our six-month intensive weight loss for teens and kids program is meant for children and teens ages 5 through 17 with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to the 85th percentile. A referral from your child's primary care physician is required.

The program includes:

An orientation session, including a video, a call with the program office to answer questions and scheduling your first visit.

Clinical visits with a pediatrician, psychologist, registered dietitian and exercise physiologist. Your child must wear workout clothes and tennis shoes on every visit. The clinical team may recommend additional visits or extending the program.

Interactive workshops, which are required at least twice per month. Workshop topics include cooking classes, grocery store tours and fitness classes.

Review our workshop times and locations on Facebook
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Program: Q. How can I get my child started with AdventHealth for Children Weight Management and Wellness?

A. Get started by calling our office at Call407-303-9200. We can help answer any questions and get you started with the online orientation video.

Q. How should I prepare for my first visit?

A. Watch the online video orientation, where you will explore a detailed overview of the program.

Q. Does my child qualify for AdventHealth for Children Weight Management and Wellness?

A. Our program is meant for children and teens ages 5 through 17 with body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to the 85th percentile. A physician referral is required.

Q. Are the workshops required for successful completion and the best results in the program?

A. Yes. The workshops are designed to elaborate, reinforce and train new thoughts and skills to manage weight successfully.
Wellness Basics: How Our Lifestyles Affect Our Health: Our experts at AdventHealth for Children share evidence-based strategies for healthy habits with kids, including:

Better sleep habits: Kids who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to gain weight and risk developing other health problems.

Counseling for emotions: Conflict, arguments and other stressors can affect health and weight. We give your child tactics to help stay calm and well.

Nutrition coaching: We share tips for a healthy diet that gives your child the energy to feel great all day.

Tips to be more active: Just an hour a day of activity can make a big difference.

Tactics for healthy relationships: Your child can use strategies to stop bullies or not be a bully themself.
Weight Loss Programs for Teens and Children: Children and teens with weight challenges may be dealing with failed attempts to lose weight and social isolation and stigma, too, but we're here to help. Our experts understand the full range of risks, triggers, habits and more that lead to childhood obesity.

At AdventHealth for Children, your child's care team also uses techniques designed just for kids. Your child’s care plan and team:

Focuses on helping them adopt healthy behaviors like healthy eating and exercise

Follows up with them to ensure they stay on track for a healthy weight

Includes a medical evaluation to check their general health and look for any undiagnosed conditions

Is tailored to your child’s age and developmental stage

Treats your child's whole health, not just their weight

Includes your family in the care plan

Our weight-management program has achieved remarkable results in helping kids lose weight and enjoy the physical, emotional and spiritual rewards of being healthy.
Tips for Kids to Stay Healthy: Be Mindful With What You're Eating

Choosing healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables provides our bodies with more nutrients and prevents some diseases. Click here to view our plant-powered recipes. And remember, drink lots of water.

Be Active

Take time daily to walk, run, bike ride or participate in a sports team or exercise class. It’s OK to start slow, but keep working up to more active time and less downtime.

Get More Sleep

Kids need more sleep than adults — about 9 to 10 hours a day. Getting less sleep means a higher risk for obesity and, eventually, for conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Try going to bed at the same time each day, keeping your bedroom cool and dark, and avoiding foods and drinks with caffeine in the evening. Make sure to turn off screens and electronics before bedtime.

Make Good Friends

When you have friends you trust, you’re likely to feel safe and happy, and you’re less likely to worry and overeat. Try to be honest and fair with your parents and teachers, too. They are there for you when you need them.

Address Bullying

If you’re being bullied, tell someone like your teacher, parents or any adult you trust. These folks are there to protect you and any other kids the bully may be hurting.

Limit Screen Time

Limit video games, TV, cell phone and computer time to one to two hours per day. Your brain, eyes and body need breaks!
Mission:FIT POSSIBLE: We’re partnering with WebMD and Sanford Health to bring FIT to you and your child. This national initiative aims to help kids and their parents get on board with fun, effective whole-life wellness, including:
Food: Eating healthy can be delicious, with fresh fruit, great veggie dishes, whole grains, and other foods to give kids the energy and nutrition they need without excess sugar and fat.
Mood: Kids’ emotions play an important role in their health. FIT helps your family learn ways to de-stress and manage moods.
Move: FIT incorporates physical activity with engaging lessons on fitness.
Recharge: Kids need plenty of sleep. FIT helps kids understand the importance of sleep and gives you strategies for helping your child get enough rest.
With our FIT program, “edutainer” experts come to your child’s school, church, or community center to teach kids to be “fit friendly” and to bring home tools your whole family can use to stay healthy.
Learn More
Research and Publications: Our experts have created national obesity guidelines, led national obesity studies and publications and participated in a national FOCUS group.

Publications:

Establishment of the Pediatric Obesity Weight Evaluation Registry

Health Outcomes of Youth

Assessment of Obese Children

Additional Resources:

https://www.childrenshospitals.org/Newsroom/Press-Releases/2014/Clinicians-at-Childrens-Hospitals-Issue-Recommendations-for-Obesity-related-Conditions-in-Children

Healthy Hospital Practice to Practice

Research Studies:

Analysis of Pediatric waist to Hip ratio… (Fals)

Expert Exchange A Narrative Review… (Fals)

A Review of Modifiable Risk Factors… (Pratt)

Meet Our Medical Director

Angela Fals, MD, FAAP, DABOM, CCMS

You can count on our skilled weight management and wellness staff to provide personalized care that works. We know how to talk to kids, and we consider your whole family as part of the care team. Leading by example in providing the best care is our medical director, Angela Fals, MD, FAAP, CCMS, Diplomate American Board of Obesity Medicine.

Depression Screening
Distorted Body Image
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Low Self-Esteem
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Prediabetes (Insulin Resistance and Impaired Glucose Tolerance)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Rapid Weight Gain
Severe Obesity
Sleep Apnea/Sleep Disorders
Type 2 Diabetes (with Endocrinologist)

Indira Abraham Pratt, PHD — Indira Abraham-Pratt, PHD

ABPP, Board-Certified Clinical Health Psychologist

Angela Fals, MD, FAAP, DABOM, CCMS

FAAP, Diplomate, American Board of Obesity Medicine, Medical Director

Olivia De Fanti Exercise Psychologist — Olivia De Fanti, MS, CSCS, EP-C

Exercise Physiologist

Chris Schnell — Christopher Schnell

RD, LD/N Dietitian

Adolescent Bariatric Surgery

Childhood obesity is a complex condition that can impact an adolescent’s health in many different ways. Together with your family, our multispecialty adolescent bariatric care team will guide you and your child through your personalized weight-loss options to determine the best path for care. AdventHealth for Children has the only accredited Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program in Central Florida offering bariatric procedures and a range of support services to help your child and family maintain a healthier lifestyle.

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In this time of uncertainty, you can count on us for all your health care needs.

Our services are still available to you during the coronavirus pandemic. You can speak with one of our expert weight and wellness specialists in a video visit or phone call and may be advised to make an in-person visit, if it’s deemed necessary.

We currently offer the following types of appointments:

New and Follow up Virtual Visits with full weight management multidisciplinary team (pediatric obesity medicine physician, child clinical health psychologist, registered dietitian, and exercise physiologist.
Partial Virtual Visits – New and Follow up Virtual Visits COMBINED WITH a short in-person nurse only visit for a metabolism and clinical assessment prior to the full team virtual visit.
Additional Virtual Visits – Virtual Visits with the child clinical health psychologist, registered dietitian and/or exercise physiologist to continue working on specific healthy goals.
Virtual Personal and Small Group Training Sessions – Virtual Trainings with our exercise physiologist and health educators.
Virtual Health Coaching – by health and wellness educators; supplemental to our program.

Make an Appointment

In this Ask a Kid Doc segment, pediatric clinical health psychologist Dr. Indira Abraham-Pratt provides valuable tips for parents and explains the benefits of healthy eating habits, the dangers of too much screen time and how to get your child to be more active and engaged offline.

Watch Full Video

Turning Good Food into Medicine at The Kitchen House

Sometimes the best health care happens in the kitchen — especially if the food comes from a garden just outside the door. That’s what happens at The Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House and Culinary Garden, which is better known as The Kitchen House.

Kids come to plant garden vegetables, harvest them and help cook delicious meals. They take their skills and knowledge home with them, where they can replicate easy meals and share important lessons about nutrition and cooking. AdventHealth for Children is at the forefront of this move to start kids off with good eating habits, and to help them be ambassadors for healthy eating. Learn More

Dr. Angela Fals is also a Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist (CCMS)

Learn More About Culinary Medicine

President's Council

Community Leadership Award

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Florida House of Representatives

Award for the efforts around addressing childhood obesity
Adventists InStep for Life

Award for promoting health and wellness in the community

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Press Ganey

Patient Experience Top Performer

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Healthy eating tips: Our pediatric dietitian, Christopher Schnell, shares some of his favorite tips for your family to create healthy eating habits: drinking more water, eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables and reading nutrition labels to know what’s in your food.

Social media and wellness: Our pediatric psychologist, Indira Abraham-Pratt, PhD, discusses social media use and how to ensure your child has a healthy and happy experience, both online and offline.

Mental health in kids: Our pediatric psychologist, Indira Abraham-Pratt, PhD, shares ways to help identify stressors in your child’s life and how to connect with them for better mental health.

Physical fitness tips: Our pediatric exercise physiologist, Olivia De Fante, discusses the importance of physical exercise for your whole family, how to work in stretching to prevent injury and ways to enjoy fitness together.

Mindset matters: Our health educator, Tessa Montana, MPH, shares ways to promote health and wellness in your home, along with activities you can do as a family to boost everyone’s mood and create a happy environment