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Updated: Feb 25, 2026
Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Evidence Base for Multidisciplinary Care of Pediatric/Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Patients
Mohamed O Elahmedi1, Aayed R Alqahtani2
1Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, 1 Baabda, Riyadh, 11472, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Severe childhood obesity is increasing and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Bariatric surgery within a comprehensive program offers a solution for severely obese children and adolescents when lifestyle changes are insufficient.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Bariatric Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Severe childhood obesity (body mass index [BMI] > 99th percentile) is a growing global health concern.
- It is linked to significant early-onset health problems and mortality.
- Effective management necessitates a multidisciplinary strategy to address associated health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence on managing severe pediatric obesity.
- To detail a multidisciplinary approach incorporating bariatric surgery for all pediatric age groups.
- To highlight the unique comprehensive program offered for severe pediatric obesity.
Main Methods:
- Review of up-to-date scientific evidence.
- Description of a multidisciplinary care model for pediatric obesity.
- Inclusion of data from the authors' center, a unique provider of bariatric surgery for all pediatric age groups.
Main Results:
- Traditional lifestyle interventions (diet, exercise, behavioral therapy) show limited efficacy in severely obese pediatric patients.
- Bariatric surgery in a multidisciplinary setting is available at few global centers.
- The authors' center uniquely provides this integrated approach for all pediatric age groups.
Conclusions:
- A multidisciplinary approach is crucial for managing severe pediatric obesity.
- Bariatric surgery, when integrated into a comprehensive program, can be a viable option for severely obese children and adolescents.
- The described model offers a specialized solution for this complex patient population.
Purpose Of Review:
Severe childhood obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than the 99th percentile for age and gender, is rising in most countries and is associated with early morbidity and mortality. Optimal management of the health of the child with obesity requires a multidisciplinary approach that identifies and treats associated derangements.
Recent Findings:
Lifestyle interventions such as diet, exercise, and behavioral therapy for the severely obese pediatric patient are generally not effective. Few centers worldwide offer bariatric surgery for adolescents in a multidisciplinary setting, and we are the only center that offers a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates bariatric surgery for severely obese children and adolescents across all age groups. In this paper, we review up-to-date evidence in this subject including ours, and provide details on the multidisciplinary approach to pediatric obesity that accommodates bariatric surgery for children across all age groups.
