The MassGeneral for Children Weight Management Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital is a consultation service for adolescent and young adult patients (ages 12-25) with obesity. The Program Team provides evaluation and ongoing management of patients’ weight and weight-related co-morbidities.

Treatment

Treatment options offered in the program include:

• Behavioral modification (individualized nutritional counseling, group drop-in nutrition sessions)
• Weight loss medications
• Referral for weight loss surgery when appropriate, and peri-operative management

Evaluations

All new patients will have a comprehensive evaluation that includes:

• Medical evaluation
• Nutrition evaluation
• Fasting laboratory evaluation

When appropriate, patients will be referred for additional evaluations including:

• Psychological assessment by a specialist in child/adolescent psychology and/or eating pathology
• Physical therapy consultation for an individualized exercise program
• Sleep study

Collaboration With Other Programs

The Weight Management Program occasionally partners with other programs at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and MassGeneral Hospital for Children:

• Patients may be referred to the Physical Therapy Department at Newton-Wellesley Hospital for a consultation with experts in exercise training in order to provide an individualized exercise program for healthy weight management.
  
  
• Patients 18 years of age or over who have indications for weight loss surgery will be referred to the Center for Weight Loss Surgery at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. A full pre-operative medical evaluation will be done prior to referral, and Dr. Jennifer Rosenblum will care for the patient’s medical issues after surgery.
  
  
• Patients younger than 18 years of age who have indications for weight loss surgery will be referred to the the Mass General Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children after having a full pre-operative medical evaluation by Dr. Rosenblum.

Our Team

The Weight Management Program team includes:

• Jennifer Rosenblum, MD, a physician board certified in internal medicine and adolescent medicine with a specialty in obesity medicine
   
  
• Ashley Bade, RD, LDN, CNSD, a dietitian with expertise in pediatrics, weight loss counseling and cardiovascular health

Referral Process

The Newton-based MGH program fully accepts health insurance and welcomes new patients.

Patients must be referred by a pediatrician or other provider such as a medical specialist, dietitian or therapist. New patient evaluations take place on Wednesday mornings.