Wellness and Excessive Weight Gain

Abstract

Wellness in health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Obese adolescents are at particular risk for low wellness due to weight stigma, weight-based teasing/bullying and increased risk of metabolic syndrome, social isolation, avoidance of health care, depression, anxiety, substance use, low self-esteem, self-harm, poor body image, and suicide. The appropriate identification of teens experiencing excessive weight gain and potential comorbidities is important to make sure helpful services can be offered, ideally by an interdisciplinary team with adolescent expertise. Nutrition providers play an important role in helping teens to improve their relationship with food, prevent disordered eating and promote whole-person health.