Childhood obesity is a significant health problem affecting children and families throughout Indiana and across the U.S. Obesity develops when a child has gained excessive weight. This typically occurs from eating unhealthy foods, consuming large portions of food and not staying physically active. Rarely, medications or certain medical conditions can cause a child to gain weight easily. Having an unhealthy weight can lead to more health problems throughout a child’s life.
What to Expect
What to Expect
During your visit at Riley at IU Health, you and your child may meet with a physician, nurse, dietitian and child psychologist. We are a team who will help your child achieve a healthier weight, become more active, and stay motivated to accomplish his/her goals.
- You and your child will complete a 3-day food diary and questionnaires regarding your family’s eating and activity patterns.
- We will review your child’s weight and height on his/her growth charts.
- Your child’s physician may check blood tests to look for other medical problems that can develop from obesity. These chronic diseases include diabetes, fatty liver disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and sleep disorders.
Your child’s provider will also make recommendations to help your child’s weight management such as:
- Dietary counseling. The nutrition specialists at Riley at IU Health can provide you and your child healthy food options that meet the specific nutritional needs for your child.
- Physical activity. Engaging in more physical activities, such as going on walks as a family, can help your child become more active.
- Goal setting. By setting realistic, achievable weight loss goals, your child can stay on track to reach a healthy weight.
- Family-centered approach. Our approach is to help your child and family create a sustainable healthy lifestyle that will encourage your child to reach their weight management goals.
Key Points to Remember
Key Points to Remember
- Childhood obesity can lead to lifelong diseases.
- You and your family can start by eating more fruit, vegetables, and lean protein. It is best to avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food.
- Limit the use of electronics to less than 2 hours per day.
- Begin doing physical activities every day as a family, such as walking and playing outside.
- Children and adolescents need support and encouragement from family members to make healthy food choices and implement physical activity into their daily lives.
Healthy Lifestyle Videos
Dr. Sara Naramore, pediatric gastroenterologist at Riley Children's shares some tips on how you and your family can lead a healthy lifestyle.
Conditions & Services
Conditions Treated
Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.
Doctors and
Locations
Doctors
4.8 out of 5 stars
(71 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyChild & Adolescent Psychiatry
317.944.3774
4.7 out of 5 stars
(41 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyPediatric Gastroenterology
317.944.3774
4.6 out of 5 stars
(117 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyPediatric Gastroenterology
317.944.3774
4.9 out of 5 stars
(30 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyPediatric Gastroenterology
317.944.3774
4.8 out of 5 stars
(102 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyPediatric Gastroenterology
317.944.3774
4.7 out of 5 stars
(84 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyChild & Adolescent Psychiatry
317.944.3773
Locations
Locations
In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.
Support Services & Resources
Support Services & Resources
Visit the trusted websites below to learn more about teaching kids to live a healthy lifestyle.
Resources
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Healthy snack options from the Riley Children's Health team that are all 100 calories or less.
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This resource provides helpful information and tips around nutrition, screen time, physical activity and choosing healthy beverages.
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Alternatives to Sugary Beverages (PDF)
Get tips from Riley Children's Health on ways to cut out high sugar beverages.
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Learn about the different ways you and your family can incorporate physical activity into your everyday routine.
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Healthy Eating on a Budget (PDF)
Riley Children's Health provides helpful information on how to eat healthy while saving money.
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Find resources with findhelp for free or reduced-cost social services, including medical care, food, housing and more.
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Let’s Go! Is an obesity prevention initiative for children and adults that focuses on healthy eating and an active lifestyle.
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Cosmic Kids teaches yoga to kids in a fun and exciting way to make yoga and mindfulness fun.
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The dr.yumproject provides healthy recipes that the whole family will enjoy.
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GoNoodle provides fun, quick videos that get kids moving at home!
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Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight
This resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics provides resources to engage and educate patients and families around healthy eating.
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Jump IN for Healthy Kids Resources
This searchable listing from a central Indiana community initiative allows you to find many helpful resources.
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Visit eatright.org to find helpful tips and recipes for healthy nutritious meals.
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MyPlate provides helpful information on what should be included from each food group for each meal.
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This PDF resource from MyPlate provides a printable template to track each food group on your child's plate easily.
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This helpful infographic from the California Department of Public shows how much sugar is in common beverages and the amount of walking needed to burn off the calories from the beverage.
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Understanding Nutrition Labels (PDF)
This helpful resource from 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! helps break down what to look for on nutrition labels when shopping at the grocery store.
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We Can! is a national movement from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute designed to give parents, caregivers, and entire communities a way to help children 8 to 13 years old stay at a healthy weight.
Related Departments
Related Departments
We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related departments.
Health Professionals
For Health Professionals
Our comprehensive team has put together a tool to help physicians treat patients with obesity. These guidelines are to be used as a reference. If you have any specific questions about this tool or more, please reach out to our team.
Riley Obesity Evaluation & Management Guidelines (PDF) - to view this interactive PDF, you'll need to download and view the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader.