Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Spring 2020 - 25

lifestyle changes, adjustment in medications, behavior modification,
psychological counseling and surgery if necessary.
Medical Weight Loss is offered for children of all ages. This
non-surgical program uses a combination of customized meal plans
and nutritional guidance, psychological assistance to the patient
and family as well as medication when needed. The goal is often
to maintain or decrease the child's weight so they will grow into a
healthier weight over time.
Beginning at age 15, Surgical Weight Loss may be an option
for any patient who meets specialized criteria related to the
patients' weight and the presence of other obesity-related illnesses.
Indications for surgery include:
* Class 2 obesity, BMI > 35 or 120% of the 95th percentile
for age and sex, whichever is lower with clinically significant
co-morbidities OSA (AHI >5), T2DM, Idiopathic Intracranial
Hypertension, Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Blount disease,
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis, GERD, or HTN.

Ongoing Program Development
To help enhance the success for our patients the center is adding
an exercise physiologist to provide supervised time for teens in the
gym, now located in our new center. We are also planning group
fitness classes, cooking classes in our teaching kitchen, and summer
programs and camps for our young patients that will allow the
adolescent patients to learn together.

Referral Information
The Tower Health Weight Loss Surgery and Wellness Center is
committed to intervening early to treat childhood and adolescent
obesity thus preventing future chronic health conditions for the
children in our community.

* Class 3 obesity, BMI > 40 or 140% of the 95th percentile for
age and sex, whichever is lower, do not require co-morbidities.

If you'd like to refer a patient to our center place a referral in
EPIC using the keywords Weight Management or Bariatrics or call
484-628-5673. A Patient Representative will confirm the details
of coverage and contact your patient with that information within
seven to 10 business days to schedule an evaluation. Patients or their
family can also make a self-referral by calling 484-628-5673.

Contraindications of surgery in this patient population include
medically correctable cause of obesity, untreated or poorly controlled
substance abuse, or pregnancy.

To learn more and view videos about Tower Health Weight Loss
Surgery & Wellness Center and the Healthy Teens program visit
thweightmanagement.org.

Nutrition Education Plays Vital Role in Patient
Success
Diet modification is crucial to the long-term weight loss success
of the adolescent patient population. Our Registered Dietitians
establish a personalized nutrition plan for each patient and regularly
schedule follow-up visits for ongoing support and education.
We help patients understand food labels, food journaling, meal
planning, healthy meal and snack planning, cost-effective eating,
cooking skills, and balanced nutrition.

How to Help Your Patients Maintain a Healthy
Weight: Encourage the 5-2-1-0 Rule
The recent obesity statistics in our community, state, and
country are staggering. As physicians we can no longer be afraid to
discuss with our patients the importance of maintaining a healthy
weight. Prevention is key when trying to tackle obesity. Encourage
limited snacking, eating meals together as a family, increasing
consumption of healthy foods, and limiting processed foods. We
also need to stress the importance of more active play and decreasing
screen time in young patients. We often recommend organized after
school programs in the community to help increase active play in
the younger children as a great way to promote physical activity.
We also reinforce the daily 5-2-1-0 Rule to emphasize healthy
habits for patients and their families. This "rule" encourages
eating five servings of fruits and vegetables, less than two hours
of recreational screen time, one hour of physical activity, and zero
sugary beverages each day.

TONY & JOE'S

LANDSCAPING
COMMERCIAL
& RESIDENTIAL

Services

Mowing * Planting * Designs
Complete Ground Maintenance
Landscapes and Hardscapes
Ponds & Water Features
Edgeing & Mulching Beds
Sodding
Shrub/Hedge Removal
Retainer Walls
Stump Grinding
Tree Cutting & Removal
Spout Cleaning

610-775-5380

www.tonyandjoeslandscaping.com
SPRING 2020

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http://www.thweightmanagement.org http://www.tonyandjoeslandscaping.com
Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Spring 2020

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