Medication Treatment for Children and Adolescents
The Critical Importance of Early Medical Intervention
120 million children and adolescents worldwide are living with obesity.
Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and teens has doubled, with current data showing that 1 in 5 children is overweight or obese.
It is now known that 90% of adolescents struggling with obesity are likely to carry the condition into adulthood, placing them at high risk of developing related complications such as diabetes, depression, heart disease, and other health issues.
This is why early medical intervention is critically important. It allows for a tailored, effective, and long-term response that can help prevent the onset of related diseases.
Recent research highlights the vital role of intensive and comprehensive treatment programs, led by multidisciplinary professional teams, in achieving lasting positive outcomes for children and adolescents facing obesity.
Dr. Raz Hagoel and a 17-year-old patient were recently featured on *“HaOlam HaBoker”*, where they discussed the new obesity treatment medication that was just approved by the FDA for use in children and adolescents over the age of 12.
On, a patient at our center for over a year, had already received special approval from the Ministry of Health to begin using the medication. Through the treatment, she lost 40 kg and shared what motivated her to start, what the process was like at our center, and how critical close supervision and follow-up with a professional team were to her success.
A Comprehensive and Supportive Treatment Framework for Adolescents and Their Families
The Obesity Treatment Medical Center, led by Dr. Raz Hagoel, is one of the few in Israel and worldwide that treats obesity using weight loss medications through a unique therapeutic approach.
The center provides a full care system based on close, personal guidance from an experienced multidisciplinary team.
The process focuses on adolescents and their families, recognizing that obesity is a complex health condition influenced by genetic, behavioral, and emotional factors, and requires a personalized treatment plan for each individual.
Today, there is a deeper understanding of the brain mechanisms responsible for satiety, and it is now recognized that one of the major factors contributing to obesity is a disruption in the balance between the body’s hunger and fullness signals, which requires medical intervention to treat the condition.
Medication-Based Treatment for Children and Adolescents – What Does the Process Involve?
ליווי ופיקוח אישי
של ד"ר רז
Dr. Raz Hagoel is a specialist in family medicine with expertise in obesity care, obesity treatment, and weight management. He has extensive experience in developing comprehensive, personalized medical treatment plans for individuals with overweight or obesity, including adolescents and teens.
Dr. Raz’s treatment process includes consultation, supervision, personal follow-up, and full support, both for the patient and their surrounding family environment.
Dr. Raz and the professional team at the medical center maintain ongoing, personal contact with each patient throughout the entire process. They are available to address any questions or concerns that may arise, ensuring continuity of care, optimal treatment results in minimal time, and most importantly, peace of mind and confidence for both the patient and their family.
What Makes the Treatment Process with Dr. Raz Unique?
First and foremost, the treatment plan applies the most advanced and up-to-date medical knowledge in the science of obesity, specifically in children and adolescents. The program is guided by a full medical treatment protocol that tailors a personalized medication plan for each patient based on age and specific needs.
Throughout the course of treatment, Dr. Raz adjusts and combines medications as needed, based on the patient’s medical response, to enhance the effectiveness of the therapy and achieve maximum results in minimal time, ensuring weight loss is safe, controlled, and balanced.
All medications prescribed by Dr. Raz are prescription-only drugs approved by the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Raz’s experience in treating children and adolescents is reflected in a compassionate and attentive approach that creates a safe, accepting, and non-judgmental space. The communication with each teen is always respectful and age-appropriate. The treatment addresses both the physical and emotional needs of young patients, laying a strong foundation for long-term success.
Comprehensive personal support is critically important, especially in light of research showing that most treatments within standard community healthcare settings do not provide sufficient tailored support. Additional research has highlighted the issue of “weight stigma,” which is present even among healthcare professionals, often undermining the confidence of young patients and leading to poor treatment adherence.
Close Guidance and Support from a Clinical Dietitian Specializing in Children and Adolescents
The nutritional program, guided and supervised by skilled and experienced clinical dietitians, provides ongoing support to the patient throughout the entire process. This nutritional support complements medical treatment and is personally tailored to each individual. It is based primarily on a non-diet approach, with no meal plans and no avoidance of favorite foods.
This makes it easier for adolescents to follow the program and adopt healthy eating habits that help prevent weight regain.
The primary goal of the program is to help young individuals develop healthy eating habits that stay with them into adulthood. In addition, it aims to provide practical tools that teach them to listen to their own needs and reconnect with their internal hunger and fullness cues, allowing for greater flexibility in how they relate to food throughout the day.
This approach stands in contrast to traditional weight-loss diets that impose strict rules and numerous restrictions, which are often difficult or impossible to maintain over time, especially for children and adolescents.
Body Composition and Resting Metabolic Rate (BMR) Test
This analysis measures body fat mass, muscle mass, and water composition using advanced technology based on bioelectrical impedance. The test takes only a few minutes and requires no physical effort.
The analysis helps assess body composition, determine metabolic rate, identify values that need improvement during the treatment period, and outline the necessary lifestyle changes to support those improvements.
The test is essential for monitoring treatment progress and allows for adjustments and refinements throughout the process to increase treatment effectiveness and maximize results.
Personalized Patient File Management Service
As part of the program at the medical center, patients receive personalized medical file management provided by a dedicated patient care coordinator. The coordinator conducts weekly calls to offer ongoing support and track treatment progress, providing immediate solutions to any questions or concerns that arise during the process—whether through direct assistance or a quick referral to the clinic’s physician or clinical dietitian, as needed.
This support service is a vital component in maintaining continuity of care and steady weight loss, and it plays an important role in the personal support system that surrounds both the patient and their family throughout the entire treatment journey.
A Range of Digital Services Including:
- A user-friendly digital system for remote support and maintaining treatment continuity
- Unlimited video calls with the treating. physician and/or clinical dietitia.
- 24/7 phone availability for the patient and their parents.
- Option to send prescriptions directly to the pharmacy and have medications delivered to the patient’s home.
