KCTV 5: Children's Mercy doctors give hope to kids battling obesity

by Emily Sinovic

One in about every five children and teens in the United States are obese, and many more children are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Beyond the bullying and sometimes shame that come with childhood obesity, there is a physical toll on those young bodies that sometimes cannot be reversed.

The Pediatric Weight Management Program at Children's Mercy is working to help those children before it's too late. Dr. Brooke Sweeney oversees the program.

"We have children here in this program that are young and can weigh 200, 300, some even 400 and 600 pounds," Sweeney said.

Children and their families come to the program to make a serious lifestyle change, learning new healthy eating habits, finding ways to stay active and sticking to a plan to help them regain their health and return to a safe weight.

Adam Clinton has been a patient for the past few months. He's 11 years old and has dropped 15 pounds since he began the program at Children's Mercy.

"It's tough. It's really tough," Adam said.

He says the doctor's appointments, classes and new healthy eating habits may not be easy, but it's better than how he felt before coming. He was overweight, so much so that he lost confidence, didn't want to participate in activities, and he felt helpless.

Adam's mom, Kellie Clinton, brought her son to Children's Mercy, worried about his long-term health.

See the full story via KCTV 5.

Learn more about the Weight Management Program at Children's Mercy.