Lifestyle and Weight Loss For Teens

In this episode, I talk about boredom eating in teenagers and ways to stop it. I explain the role of hormone dopamine in beating boredom with food.  I teach teens how to identify true hunger versus boredom.  I’m Dr. Jenny Gourgari—pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine and a health coach.  After helping hundreds of teens struggling with their weight and hormones, I’ve created a w...

In this episode, I discuss how many calories teenagers need based on their activity levels. I provide general guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Academy of Pediatrics.  I emphasize choosing healthy foods over strict calorie counting and explain the ideal breakdown of carbs, fats, and proteins. I also advise caution with restrictive diets like keto for teens.  Paren...

In this podcast episode I answer common questions about protein requirements for teenagers, detailing recommended intake based on age and activity level as per the American Academy of Pediatrics. I discuss various protein sources, favoring whole foods over protein powders, and highlights the importance of protein for growth, muscle development, hormone production, and satiety.  Learn how to calcul...

In this episode I discuss strategies to achieve healthy habits in 2025. 00:59 Setting Goals for a Healthier 2025 02:41 Focusing on One Goal at a Time 05:26 Identifying and Replacing Triggers 09:05 Building Consistent Healthy Habits 11:50 Teenagers and Habit Formation 13:13 Dealing with Setbacks 17:20 Final Thoughts and Encouragement 17:47 Invitation to the Lift Program I’m Dr. Jenny Gourgari—pedia...

Can teaching teens to cook be the key to a healthier lifestyle? In this episode, I discuss how a 10-week experiential cooking and nutrition program significantly boosted cooking skills and vegetable consumption among school students.  Learn how these essential skills, from reading recipes to safely using kitchen tools, can set the foundation for lifelong healthy eating habits.  Manuscript:  An Exp...

Could understanding your body's natural changes during puberty help you love yourself more? Imagine reducing the urge for cosmetic surgery just by tweaking your mindset!  A study from South Korea implemented a school curriculum focused on teaching teens to appreciate their bodies. By educating them on normal bodily changes, the effects of hormones, and the pitfalls of social media, they boost...

Ever wondered why teenagers seem perpetually hungry despite having high levels of the "thin" hormone leptin? Discover the complex interplay between hormones and appetite during puberty in today's episode of the Lifestyle and Weight Loss for Teens podcast. I talk about the thin hormone "leptin"—its role in signaling fullness, how its levels fluctuate differently in boys and...

As a mother, I know how tempting it is to let your teenager catch up on sleep over the weekend, but I've learned through research that this habit may be influencing their eating behaviors in ways we never expected. Tune in to learn more about the  complex relationship between poor sleep, hormonal changes, and cravings that challenge the common notion of 'catching up' on sleep. Assoc...

Ever wonder if teenage habits can shape adult health? That family debate about whether marijuana contributes to weight issues just got a whole lot more interesting. Tune in to learn more about the findings of a pivotal study published in the Addict Behavior Journal, which tracked over 5,000 adolescents into early adulthood. Association between Adolescent Substance Use and Obesity in Young Adulthoo...

Are school lunches helping  your teen's health journey?  Join me as I discuss more the  impact of a la carte menus and vending machines on adolescent eating habits.  The Association of the School Food Environment With Dietary Behaviors of Young Adolescents, American Journal of Public Health | July 2003, Vol 93, No. 7 I’m Dr. Jenny Gourgari—pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medic...

I hope every teen girl out there can listen to this episode and learn to love their body. By exploring the science behind the hormonal shifts of puberty, we can empower our  teens with the power of knowledge and understanding.  Let's foster a healthy mindset toward these expected changes of puberty and find inner peace by accepting the diversity of our bodies.  I’m Dr. Jenny Gourgari—pediatri...

Is it normal for a 15 year old to have PCOS? In this episode I talk about insulin resistance and the impact of weight loss on menstrual regularity in teenage girls with PCOS.  Ornstein RM, Copperman NM, Jacobson MS. Effect of weight loss on menstrual function in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2011 Jun;24(3):161-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2011.01.002. Epub 2011 M...

Can children may become insulin resistant ?  How early does this occur and what can we do to prevent this?  How do you fix insulin resistance in children? Manuscript presented:  Jeffery AN, Metcalf BS, Hosking J, Streeter AJ, Voss LD, Wilkin TJ. Age before stage: insulin resistance rises before the onset of puberty: a 9-year longitudinal study (EarlyBird 26). Diabetes Care. 2012 Mar;35(3):536-41....

Could your bowl of breakfast cereal be the hidden culprit in a teen's weight loss struggle? Tune in to learn more about the results of a study comparing oatmeal, cornflakes, and just water for breakfast.  Geliebter A, Grillot CL, Aviram-Friedman R, Haq S, Yahav E, Hashim SA. Effects of oatmeal and corn flakes cereal breakfasts on satiety, gastric emptying, glucose, and appetite-related hormon...

Are the weight loss struggles of your teen linked to something deeper than diet and exercise? I  explore the complex relationship between insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, abnormal lipid profiles, and how these factors compound the difficulty of achieving a healthy weight during puberty's hormonal turbulence. This episode also brings to light a pivotal study:  Bergström E, Hernell O, Pe...

I hear a lot from teens that they want to improve their belly fat. Is this possible? Yes it is!! It is actually a great thing to do, not only so that teens can look more beautiful but also because less belly fat helps decrease the inflammation in the body. In this episode, I talk about research that was done to investigate the above.  Listen to learn more. Title of the manuscript: Visceral fat dec...

In the comprehensive Health and Behavior in Teenagers Study (HABITS), valuable insights were gathered from 4,320 students, with an average age of just under 12 years. This research sheds light on an important aspect of our children's lives: how stress influences their eating habits.  Title of manuscript: Stress and Dietary Practices in AdolescentsArticle in Health Psychology · July 2003  Mart...

In this episode  I discuss why teenagers decide to get to a healthier weight and how we, as caretakers and supporters, can help maintain that flame of motivation. We're not just talking about health; we're addressing the spectrum of desires from seeking peer acceptance to gearing up for significant life events. Listen to learn the 17 distinct motivations driving teens toward a healthier...

Have you ever wondered why keeping muscle mass is key to a teen's healthy weight loss journey? I'm here to share with you essential insights on how a balanced approach to exercise can safeguard your child's muscle mass as they work to lose those extra pounds. This journey isn't just about outward appearances – it's deeply connected to maintaining hormonal balance and optim...

Could breakfast be the hidden key to your teen's weight management success? Join me, as I uncover the truth behind the science of breakfast and its impact on adolescent weight. Many parents wrestle with their teens over the morning meal, armed with good intentions but lacking clarity on whether enforcing breakfast can actually aid their child's health.  As a dedicated advocate for nurtur...

Could your teen's stubborn weight issues be linked to an underlying thyroid problem? It's a question that many parents have. We're looking beyond the scale and into the science, with insights from a research study that shed light on this topic ,  on how thyroid medication actually affects weight  in children with low thyroid. I’m Dr. Jenny Gourgari—pediatric endocrinologist, certifi...

Are your teenagers grabbing for sport and energy drinks as their go-to refreshers?  Before you let them gulp down these beverages, join me as I go over  a clinical report by the American Academy of Pediatrics . It has been archived now but I find the content of this report very helpful.  The views I present here do NOT represent the views of American Academy of Pediatrics.   I clarify the differen...

Imagine the mental weight lifted from the shoulders of our adolescent girls once they realize that they are more than the images they see on the internet.  I present a study conducted in Australia, which sheds light on how constant exposure to the internet and social media fuels teenagers' discontent with their body weight and amplifies their quest for perceived thinness. These platforms prom...

Are you ready to experience the joy of the holiday season without the guilt of overindulgence?  I used to get sad and stressed out with Holidays season because I always ended up with some extra weight. I learned over the years a few tips and I wanted to share some ideas that might help you enjoy your holidays without the regret. So, let's enjoy our holidays to the fullest, without guilt and s...

Are we inadvertently fostering eating disorders in teenagers striving for a healthy weight?   I present here a study that followed 97 teenagers aged 14-18 over a year, looking at the impact of a program on their insulin resistance, liver fat percentage, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and eating behaviors.  A comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to teen weight loss—one that promotes overa...