Treating Teen Obesity: A National Leader in Bariatric Surgery on GLP‑1s vs. Surgery

Episode 29: Treating Teen Obesity: A National Leader in Bariatric Surgery on GLP-1 vs. Surgery https://cmetracker.net/UTHSCSA/Publisher?page=pubOpen#/getCertificate/10103150   FACULTY: Richard Peterson, MD is a Professor and serves as the Chief of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery for UT Health San Antonio and is the medical director of the Christus Weight Loss Institute at Westover Hills.   OVERVIEW: Host Holly Wayment sits down with Dr. Richard Peterson to unpack the shifting landscape of pediatric obesity care. Dr. Peterson explains why GLP-1 medications have driven down bariatric surgery volumes — and why surgery still offers the most durable outcomes for obesity and its complications. He walks through updated pediatric referral criteria, compares results across medication and surgical pathways, and outlines when a combined or individualized approach makes the most sense.   For pediatricians, the takeaways are practical: recognize obesity as a disease, partner with obesity specialists, navigate insurance and access barriers, and intervene early to improve long-term outcomes for adolescents and their families.   The American Academy of Pediatrics released updated obesity guidelines in 2023 that moved away from the old “watchful waiting” approach. Under the new guidance, providers should offer weight-loss medications to patients age 12 and older with obesity, alongside lifestyle treatment, and patients 13 and older with severe obesity should be evaluated for bariatric surgery. Severe obesity is defined as a BMI at or above 120% of the 95th percentile for age and sex. Medication isn’t meant to be a first-line or standalone treatment — the AAP still supports intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment as the initial step in pediatric weight management. In a follow-up policy statement, the AAP called severe pediatric obesity an “epidemic within an epidemic” and urged that insurance cover surgery and follow-up care at high-quality multidisciplinary centers.   OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Increased awareness and education for pediatric providers   DISCLOSURE TO LEARNERS: Speaker: Richard Peterson, MD has disclosed he is a consultant for Teleflex/Standard Bariatrics, Medtronic, and Intuitive. The relevant financial relationships noted for Dr. Peterson have been mitigated.        The Pediatrics Now Podcast Planning Committee members: Steven Seidner, MD, and Holly Wayment have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.   The University of Texas at San Antonio and Steven Seidner, MD course director and content reviewer for the activity, have reviewed all financial disclosure information for all speakers, facilitators, and planning committee members; and determined and resolved all conflicts of interests. CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION STATEMENTS: The University of Texas at San Antonio is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Texas at San Antonio designates this live activity up to a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE: Healthcare professionals will receive a certificate of attendance and are asked to consult with their licensing board for information on applicability and acceptance. Credit may be obtained upon successful completion of the activity’s evaluation. RELEASE DATE: 8/12/2026 EXPIRATION DATE: 8/31/2028