Weight is one of the most personal things people carry and one of the hardest topics to talk about, especially for kids growing up and still learning who they are. When weight gain or fluctuations are out of one’s control, it can also become overwhelming and cause feelings of hopelessness. In those times, often the best action to take is to seek medical support. 

That’s exactly what Leslie Tewell did for her now 15-year-old son, Blain Tewell. Seeing Amani Terrell, M.D., Board Certified Pediatrician and Obesity Medicine Specialist with Cook Children’s Pediatrics Keller Parkway changed Blain’s life.

Obesity Medicine Care at Cook Children's - Keller Parkway

After 12 years of helping patients at Cook Children’s Pediatrics Keller Parkway, Dr. Terrell’s recent transition into obesity medicine felt natural. Year after year during routine checkups, she noticed children struggle with their weight and knew that many providers lacked the tools to truly help them. Too often, the advice was “exercise and eat healthy” and she wanted to do more. Now board-certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine, she brings specialized expertise to every patient she sees.

“The sad reality is that 1 of every 4 children in North Texas has an obesity diagnosis,” Dr. Terrell said. “And most people don’t realize that obesity is a biological response.”

This perspective helps her patients understand their weight challenges go far beyond diet choices. Blain has been seeing Dr. Terrell for more than 10 years now and appreciates her thoughtful approach, not just focusing on one aspect of his health.

“Dr. Terrell’s consistency has been the most helpful and the way she takes time to understand me as a whole person,” Blain said.

Learning Throughout the Weight Loss Journey

Blain and Leslie have learned that weight loss takes time and that it’s important to focus on Blain’s well-being and health, not just numbers.

“I’ve learned more about making balanced choices and listening to my body,” Blain said. “My mom and I both learned the importance of patience and the encouragement I’ve needed along the way.”

Dr. Terrell has also helped Blain build his confidence and self-awareness.

“Blain is a very sweet young man,” Dr. Terrell said. “Awareness is important and with his biology and family history of health challenges, he’s at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. He’s now maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, and he feels a lot better and is happier with his progress.”

Paying attention to his nutrition, exercising, and learning about medication options including GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) have also helped Blain.

GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. The medications reduce hunger, increase feeling full, and improve blood sugar control and have become common as an effective way to help patients lose weight.

Developing New Habits and Everyday Routines

Throughout the last year, Blain has been focusing on small habits that are easier to sustain -regular routines, being mindful of calories, and staying active in ways that are more manageable for him.

Having parental guidance, support and understanding makes it easier for kids to take steps and reach their goals. Leslie has tried to keep things balanced and not overwhelming. Her goal as a parent has been to support Blain and help him build lifelong habits, ensuring he feels encouraged and capable of his hopes and aspirations.

“Kids are looking for a better quality of life,” Dr. Terrell said.  “And the kids that are most successful in their goals are the ones who have their whole family involved.”

Kids often do better when their parents exercise with them, help them make healthier eating choices, and set goals together that are challenging but attainable.

Healthy Advice for Families

A lot of kids feel pressure about their weight challenges. They can even be afraid to talk with close relatives. It’s important for kids to feel safe opening up about their weight and what they are experiencing in school, and during regular daily activities.

“Take things one step at a time and focus on progress, not perfection,” Leslie said. “Most importantly, keep the focus on encouragement and overall well-being rather than pressure.”

Dr. Terrell also wants parents to understand that obesity is often a biological factor, not a result of willpower or poor parenting. She encourages parents to speak up and to share their concerns about their child’s weight with their doctor. They can even ask their doctor to speak with them in private.

“Sometimes talking about weight is triggering and we want to make sure everyone feels comfortable so we can learn about what their concerns are,” Dr. Terrell said.

Although it’s often difficult in the moment, it’s worth taking the time to have the conversation, especially when it can drastically improve a child’s health and well-being and even have a positive effect on the whole family.

I was immediatley interested when I chanced on a recent radio interview with the author, Michael Moss, who has written a new book about the inner workings of the processed food industry. The book deals specifically with the reasons that these companies use three key additives – salt, sugar and fat – in the processed food they create and market.

The term processed foods sounds somewhat sinister, but some of the ways that food is processed such as pasteurization or freezing are quite beneficial to people for both health reasons and convenience. The primary goal in most processing of foods is creation of a food product that is near ready to eat and is stable on the shelf or in our homes for a long period of time. This particular goal and the goal of making tasty processed foods according to Mr. Moss is where the problem begins.

In the book, Moss interviews food scientists in many of the large processed food companies. These scientists are tasked with making tasty food products that apeal to a large group of people. Moss describes the use of the three key additives to mask odd or bitter flavors that develop during manufacturing and to hook consumers on taste.

Moss argues that company pressures to create new appealing snacks, grow market share and improve profitability often result in unhealthy foods that contribute to the U.S. and global obesity epidemic.

The interview concluded with the debate about what steps can be taken to reduce these activities and make healthier foods. The debate no doubt will continue between different philosophies of strict government regulation and independence of consumer choice.

I’ve downloaded the eBook and look forward to learning more and examining different viewpoints. In the meantime, my family and I will continue to see fresh ingredients and discover new recipes.

More information is available if you are interested with links to the NPR interview and the book.