The Future of Pediatric Obesity Treatment: Dr. Lily Han on Lifestyle, Medicine and Mental Health

In this episode of Raising Joy, Lily Han, M.D., Co-Medical Director at Cook Children's Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program, joins host Wini King for a conversation about childhood obesity and the growing field of adolescent obesity medicine. Dr. Han shares insights into her journey, driven by her commitment to addressing underlying causes of obesity rather than just treating symptoms. She discusses how her practice focuses on lifestyle changes as key interventions, integrating nutritional education, physical activity, stress management and community resources.  Dr. Han explains that while medications like Ozempic and Wegovy—originally developed for diabetes—are now considered for adolescents with obesity, they are used only after intensive lifestyle modifications. She emphasizes obesity's complex interplay with mental health, noting increased rates of depression, stress eating, and social stigma, which can exacerbate the condition. On bariatric surgery, Dr. Han describes it as a "last resort" after other options have been explored, yet highly effective for reducing obesity-related health risks. She describes gastric sleeve surgery as a safe procedure that, by reducing the stomach’s size and affecting appetite-regulating hormones, can help sustain long-term weight loss in adolescents with severe obesity. Raising Joy is part of Cook Children’s Health Care System’s Joy Campaign, a communications initiative aimed at preventing youth suicides. For more information about the Joy Campaign, visit www.cookchildrens.org/joy or follow us on Instagram @RaisingJoyPodcast and TikTok @Raising.Joy.