Collection
Special Topics in Pediatric Surgery
Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Always talk to your child's care team about your child's situation.
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Bariatric surgery should be considered for those over the age of 13 years old with a BMI 1.2 times the 95th percentile — Justin Ryder, Treating pediatric obesity as a disease: medications, surgery, and health equity · 2:08
Treating pediatric obesity as a disease: medications, surgery, and health equity
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In this segment from Lurie Children’s Hospital, Dr. Justin Ryder breaks down the evolving science and treatment paradigm of pediatric obesity—highlighting why it must be approached as a chronic, biologically driven disease rather than a lif
podcast6:48 · Nov 2026
Child Physical Abuse Trauma Evaluation and Management: A Western Trauma Association and Pediatric Trauma Society Critical Decisions Algorithm
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Level of evidence: IV.DOI: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003076
article · Mar 2021
Locum Tenens Guidelines, Clavien-Madadi Validation, and Transitional Care Challenges
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We’re back with 23rd episode of "Quick Literature Updates" the podcast series that delivers the latest updates in pediatric surgery literature in a quick and digestible format. In each episode, we review articles covering the most interesti
podcast4:20 · Nov 2026
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Treating pediatric obesity as a disease: medications, surgery, and health equity
Obesity is a disease impacted by behavior and is a multifactorial disease impacted by a robust gene-environment interaction
clinicalJustin Ryder0:32 ↗
Obesity is impacted by numerous factors including genetics, epigenetics, appetite and satiety hormone dysregulation, stress, economics, adverse life experiences, and environmental factors like calorically dense foods and sedentary lifestyles
clinicalJustin Ryder0:44 ↗
Historically, about 90% of efforts over the past 50 years have been on prevention of childhood obesity
epidemiologicalJustin Ryder1:08 ↗
The new AAP clinical practice guidelines clearly state that obesity is a disease
guidelineJustin Ryder1:15 ↗
Treatment should be offered to all children above the 85th percentile, and there should be no more watchful waiting
guidelineJustin Ryder1:25 ↗
The guidelines describe a non-linear continuum of care starting with intensive health, behavior, and lifestyle treatment involving more than 26 contact hours over a 3 to 12-month period
guidelineJustin Ryder1:41 ↗
Pharmacotherapy for adolescents with obesity is FDA labeled for those above the age of 12
guidelineJustin Ryder1:55 ↗
There are 5 medications that are FDA approved for the treatment of adolescents with obesity
clinicalJustin Ryder2:02 ↗
Bariatric surgery should be considered for those over the age of 13 years old with a BMI 1.2 times the 95th percentile
guidelineJustin Ryder2:08 ↗
Wagovi, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, causes about 17% weight loss and is FDA approved in adolescents
clinicalJustin Ryder2:30 ↗
Data in adults on tirzepatide shows significant change in body weight compared to placebo
clinicalJustin Ryder2:44 ↗
Oral GLP-1 medications are on the way in a few short years
opinionJustin Ryder2:53 ↗
Bariatric surgery studies show sustained weight loss in both adults and adolescent cohorts over several years
clinicalJustin Ryder2:55 ↗
There is no difference between Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy in terms of percent BMI change from baseline over a 10-year period
clinicalJustin Ryder3:03 ↗
There is significant heterogeneity in response to bariatric surgery, and weight regain is a significant problem
clinicalJustin Ryder3:18 ↗
Bariatric surgery produces substantial improvements in conditions that commonly occur with obesity, like hypertension, diabetes, and high lipids
clinicalJustin Ryder3:24 ↗
Weight regain is driven by a complex interplay between behaviors like physical activity and energy intake, and biological factors like energy expenditure and appetite and satiety hormones
clinicalJustin Ryder3:40 ↗
Weight regain factors are influenced by genetics and the environment, including puberty, race, and socioeconomic status
clinicalJustin Ryder3:56 ↗
It is much easier to lose weight than to keep it off, which is demonstrated across many studies
clinicalJustin Ryder4:03 ↗
Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent pediatric liver disease
epidemiologicalJustin Ryder4:22 ↗
Obesity is a significant risk factor for MASLD
clinicalJustin Ryder4:31 ↗
About 20% of youth in the United States have obesity, which is roughly 15 million children
epidemiologicalJustin Ryder4:34 ↗
Approximately 5 million children have both obesity and MASLD
epidemiologicalJustin Ryder4:40 ↗
Between 250,000 and a million children with obesity and MASLD will progress to cirrhosis and needing a liver transplant or having hepatocellular carcinoma
epidemiologicalJustin Ryder4:45 ↗
There are racial and ethnic differences in MASLD prevalence
epidemiologicalJustin Ryder4:56 ↗
Obesity affects at least 35% of adults and 20% of children in Illinois alone
epidemiologicalJustin Ryder5:09 ↗
The rates of severe forms of obesity are only increasing
epidemiologicalJustin Ryder5:13 ↗
Obesity significantly increases the risk of long-term health problems and early death
clinicalJustin Ryder5:19 ↗
The economic impact of obesity is substantial, with reductions in GDP and increases in state spending
epidemiologicalJustin Ryder5:24 ↗
Obesity is a disease driven by biology and it is no one's fault
opinionJustin Ryder5:30 ↗
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