Lifestyle and Weight Loss For Teens: Recent Episodes
Dr Jenny Gourgari
Want to help your teenager get in shape by following a healthy lifestyle? Dr Gourgari is here to help you understand the science around safe weight loss in children. Because what works for adults in not always the best for kids!
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, obesity medicine diplomate and certified weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
Get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein LIFESTYLEFORTEENS.COM/RECIPES
To learn more about the LIfestyle For Teens / LIFT Program, visit LIFESTYLEFORTEENS.COM/PROGRAM
A friend of mine, who's also a doctor, called me about a patient: a patient she's trying to help reach a healthier weight. Her question was simple. "Should I put them on a glucose monitor? They do not have diabetes, they just want to lose weight".
If you've seen these little sensors all over your feed, you've probably wondered the same thing. So in this episode I give you the honest answer.
Here's what we cover:
- What a continuous glucose monitor actually measures, and why it's lifesaving for teens with diabetes
- Why "a screening tool, not a treatment" is the clearest way to think about it for everyone else
- What the research really says about teens without diabetes
- The quiet risk of number-watching, and how it can push a teen toward fearing food
- What actually helps a teen improve insulin sensitivity, without dieting
If you'd like the 3 signs of insulin resistance most parents miss and what to do, grab my free guide.
All the best,
Dr Jenny
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
"Just eat less and move more." If I had a dollar for every time a teenager or parent told me they received this advice, I could fund a research study.
It sounds logical. It works for some adults in some situations. But for teenagers dealing with insulin resistance, prediabetes, PCOS, or weight struggles during puberty, this advice is not just unhelpful. It misses the point entirely.
In this episode, I am sharing three specific reasons why the eat less, move more approach fails teenagers, and what actually works instead. And I am being personal about it too, because I was that teenager. I tried the tomato diet at 11 years old. I hated PE. I was always last in line when the teacher asked us to run. So I know this from the inside, not just from the clinic.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
"He will grow out of it." "Let's just keep an eye on it." "He is a teenager, this is normal."
I hear these phrases from families all the time. And I completely understand why. Waiting feels reasonable. But when it comes to prediabetes in teenagers, the wait and see approach is not always the right one. And today I want to explain exactly why, using data from a major NIH research study that changed how I think about this.
Because here is the thing most parents and even many doctors do not realise. Prediabetes in a teenager is not the same condition as prediabetes in an adult. The biology is different. The progression is different. And the window to reverse it is real, but it is not unlimited.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
A normal A1C result feels like good news. And I completely understand why parents feel relieved when they hear it. But as a pediatric endocrinologist, this is one of the biggest misunderstandings I see in families, and I want to clear it up today.
In this episode I explain what A1C actually measures, why it misses early insulin resistance in teenagers, and the other lab values and physical signs that pediatric endocrinologists look for when they want to catch metabolic problems before they become prediabetes or diabetes.
Do you worry your teen is gaining weight quickly or seems hungry all the time?
Are you afraid this could lead to prediabetes or diabetes later in life?
That’s why I created the “Healthy Weight Starts with Healthy Habits": A 7-Day Hormone Reset Program for Teens.
ONLY $25 - Learn more here !
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Everyone is talking about Ozempic, Wegovy, and GLP-1 weight loss medications for teenagers. But there is one critical piece of information that almost nobody is discussing. And as a pediatric endocrinologist who prescribes these medications regularly, I think every parent and teenager considering them needs to hear it.
In this episode, I am breaking down what the clinical trials actually showed, what the numbers really mean, and what happened to the teenagers in those studies who did not take the medication at all. Because the answer might genuinely surprise you.
What you will learn in this episode:
How GLP-1 clinical trials actually work, and why the results are more nuanced than headlines suggest
What percentage of teenagers achieved meaningful weight loss with Wegovy and semaglutide
What percentage achieved the same meaningful weight loss without any medication at all (and this number is important)
Why all GLP-1 trials were conducted alongside intensive lifestyle modification programs, and what that means for real-world results
The minimum contact support that research shows is needed for lifestyle modification to be effective
Why teenagers who had previously failed lifestyle modification achieved results when placed in a structured, supervised program for a full year
The muscle mass side effect of GLP-1 medications and what reduces it significantly
What happens to weight when GLP-1 medications are stopped, and why lifestyle change cannot be taken away.
Do you worry your teen is gaining weight quickly or seems hungry all the time?
Are you afraid this could lead to prediabetes or diabetes later in life?
That’s why I created the “Healthy Weight Starts with Healthy Habits": A 7-Day Hormone Reset Program for Teens.
ONLY $25 - Learn more here !
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode you'll learn:
• What the American Academy of Pediatrics actually says about low-carb and ketogenic diets for teens
• Why keto can work in adults but carries different risks in growing teen bodies
• The psychological risk no one is talking about
• Why "what should we add?" is a smarter question than "what should we cut?"
• The 4 simple changes that improve insulin sensitivity without ever putting a teen on a restrictive diet
By the end, you'll know exactly how to think about this — and what to do instead.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Are the foods your teen eats every day actually helping their metabolism… or keeping insulin high all day long?
I go over 7 foods that are commonly marketed as “healthy” for teens — but may contain hidden sugars that contribute to cravings, fatigue, increased hunger, and weight gain over time.
You’ll learn:
- Which foods may not be as healthy as you thought
- Simple swaps that support healthier hormones and metabolism
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
If diabetes runs in your family and you're watching your teenager's health with a quiet sense of worry — you're not being paranoid. You're paying attention. And you're already ahead of most parents who don't ask questions until a doctor forces the conversation.
In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari breaks down something most families never hear: there are specific metabolic tests officially recommended for teenagers at elevated risk for diabetes — and most families don't know to ask for them.
If your teen has a family history of diabetes, carries extra weight, shows signs of insulin resistance, or is in the middle of puberty (which itself causes a 30% drop in insulin sensitivity — yes, really), this episode is essential listening.
Dr. Jenny walks you through every test, every number, and exactly what to say at your teen's next doctor's appointment — so you walk in informed, prepared, and ready to advocate for your child.
In this episode you'll learn:
- Why family history of diabetes is a clinical risk factor — not just background information
- How insulin resistance builds quietly for years before blood sugar ever looks abnormal
- Why puberty itself puts teens with family history at significantly higher risk
- The exact criteria that qualify a teenager for metabolic screening
- The three tests to ask for — fasting glucose, Hemoglobin A1C, and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) — and what every number means
- What to do if results come back in the prediabetes range
- Three lifestyle changes you can start this week — sleep, food quality, and movement — with specific, doable steps
This isn't about fear. It's about catching something early enough to actually do something about it. Prediabetes is reversible — but only if you know it's there.
By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what to ask for, what the numbers mean, and how to start changing the trajectory for your teenager — one small step at a time.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
If your daughter was just diagnosed with PCOS and handed a birth control prescription — this episode is for you.
Birth control isn't wrong. It's actually the first-line treatment for managing irregular periods in teens with PCOS, and Dr. Jenny Gourgari wants to be clear: if your doctor recommended it, use it. But here's what most parents don't hear in that appointment — birth control manages the symptom. It doesn't address the reason her hormones became dysregulated in the first place.
In this episode, Dr. Jenny breaks down the missing link that rarely gets discussed: insulin resistance. In many teenage girls with PCOS, insulin resistance is the underlying driver causing the ovaries to produce excess androgens, disrupting the hormonal cycle, and leading to irregular or missing periods. And the powerful truth is — when you address insulin resistance, you can improve the hormonal picture in ways that matter for the rest of your daughter's life.
Dr. Jenny also addresses something most doctors skip entirely: the emotional weight of this diagnosis. Teens with PCOS are nearly four times more likely to experience eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. The approach that works isn't about restriction — it's about supporting girls to build a lifestyle that works with their biology, not against it.
In this episode you'll learn:
- What PCOS actually is, and why the name is misleading
- The direct connection between insulin resistance and irregular periods
- Why birth control treats the symptom but not the root cause
- How food, movement, and sleep can restore hormonal balance
- Why restrictive dieting is harmful for girls with PCOS, and what works instead
- Real action steps you can take this week for your daughter
- When and how medications like Metformin fit into the picture
Whether your daughter was just diagnosed or has been managing PCOS for years, this episode will give you a clearer picture of what's happening in her body.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Metabolic dysfunction in teenagers is subtle. It's slow-moving. And it rarely announces itself with obvious symptoms, which means it's easy to miss until things have already been developing quietly for years.
In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari, board-certified pediatric endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist, walks you through five specific signs that may indicate your teen is experiencing insulin resistance or metabolic dysfunction, even when their routine lab work looks completely normal.
Because here's something most parents don't know: normal blood sugar does not mean normal insulin. And fasting insulin isn't even part of standard blood work. That gap is exactly why so many teens go undiagnosed for so long.
Dr. Jenny breaks down each sign in plain, parent-friendly language, what's happening in the body, why it matters, and what questions to bring to your teen's next doctor's appointment.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why labs can look normal while insulin resistance is already building underneath
- The 5 signs to watch for, from skin changes to mood shifts to unexplained weight gain
- Why persistent fatigue that sleep won't fix is a metabolic red flag
- How hunger patterns after meals can reveal what's happening with blood sugar
- Which lab tests to ask your doctor about, beyond just blood sugar
- Why this is not a willpower issue, and what you can actually do about it
Whether your teen has already been diagnosed with prediabetes or you simply have a gut feeling that something is off, this episode gives you the knowledge to walk into your next doctor's visit informed, prepared, and asking the right questions.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Did you know that nearly 1 in 3 teenagers in the United States has prediabetes? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari breaks down the root cause of prediabetes — in both adults and teenagers — and explains why adolescents face a unique and compounded risk during puberty.
Dr. Gourgari walks us through the science in plain, accessible language: what happens in your body when you eat sugar, how insulin and beta cells work, and at what point the system begins to break down. She covers the key diagnostic numbers to know, the most important risk factors (including the ones you can change), and why belly fat plays such a central role in insulin resistance.
You'll also learn why teenagers are especially vulnerable — from poor sleep and unhealthy snacking to the hormonal surges of puberty that can worsen insulin resistance by up to 30%. But there's genuine hope: prediabetes is reversible, and lifestyle changes can make a profound difference.
In this episode:
- How insulin and beta cells drive blood sugar regulation
- The exact numbers that define prediabetes vs. diabetes
- Why visceral (belly) fat is the #1 modifiable risk factor
- The unique puberty-related insulin resistance teenagers face
- How sleep, exercise, and food quality all play a role
- Why 30–50% of teenagers can reverse prediabetes with lifestyle changes
Whether you're a parent, a teenager, or simply someone who wants to protect their metabolic health, this episode is packed with practical, empowering information.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Did you know that up to 36% of teenagers may have prediabetes — that's 1 in 3 teens? In this episode, Dr. Jenny breaks down everything parents need to know about prediabetes in adolescents, including what it actually is, how it's measured, and — most importantly — why it's still reversible.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The difference between prediabetes and diabetes (and the exact A1C numbers that matter)
- Why prediabetes often has no obvious symptoms in teens
- The soft signs and risk factors to watch for — including skin darkening around the neck, central belly fat, family history, and more
- Why puberty itself can temporarily raise blood sugar
- How up to 50% of teens with prediabetes can return to normal — without medication
- When to ask your doctor to test your child's hemoglobin A1C
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Could 35 grams of protein at breakfast be the secret to helping your teen stop gaining fat and feel full longer? In this episode, Dr. Jenny breaks down a real study done in teenagers — and shares exactly how to make high-protein breakfasts work for busy, picky, or breakfast-skipping teens. No perfection required.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari discusses how learning to read food labels can help teenagers make healthier food choices.
While fresh foods without labels are always the healthiest option, packaged foods are a reality of modern life. Understanding nutrition labels can help teens compare foods, reduce hidden sugar intake, and choose options that support better energy and metabolism.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
A research study followed nearly 2,000 children for more than 36 years to understand how childhood weight affects future health.
In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari explains:
• What the new research discovered
• Why puberty is a critical window for metabolic health
• The difference between being healthy today and protecting future health
• Two simple habits that can reduce long-term risk
This episode is a hopeful reminder that small changes today can dramatically shape your teen’s future health.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Many parents notice darkening of the skin around their teen’s neck and assume it is dirt or poor hygiene. But what if it is actually a medical sign from the body?
While it may seem like a cosmetic issue, this skin change can be an early warning sign that the body is producing too much insulin, which may increase the risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes later in life.
The good news is that this condition is often reversible when teens begin building healthier habits.
In this episode you will learn:
• Why this dark skin appears around the neck
• What insulin resistance really means
• The difference between insulin resistance and prediabetes
• Why puberty hormones can affect metabolism
• Simple habits that can help improve insulin sensitivity
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
You’ll learn:
- Why one bad food experience can shape food beliefs for years
- How cooking together increases vegetable intake
- What science says about repeated exposure and taste development
- Simple ways to help teens reach 5–6 servings a day without pressure
This episode is for parents and teens who want practical, realistic strategies that actually work.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
New Year’s resolutions sound motivating — until they turn into frustration.
In this episode, I talk about why the all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for teenagers, especially during puberty, when hormones, sleep needs, school stress, and social pressure are already high.
I share a simple, realistic way for teens to plan healthy habits over the year, one habit at a time — without diets, restriction, or constant fights at home.
I’ll also walk you through the free New Year Habit Worksheet I created to help teens:
- Build awareness around their habits
- Choose ONE habit per month
- Create realistic plans that actually stick
🎁 Download the free worksheet here:
👉 lifestyleforteens.com/newyear
And remember — small habits can have huge results.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode of the Lifestyle and Weight Loss for Teens Podcast, I talk about snacking habits in teenagers and how they relate to weight gain. Many teens snack multiple times a day—but is snacking actually the problem?
I break down a large research study of over 2,700 adolescents that shows it’s not the number of snacks that matters most—it’s the type of snacks and how teens eat them. We talk about mindless snacking, screen time, protein bars, processed foods, and what truly makes a snack supportive for a teen’s growing body and hormones.
I also share simple, realistic snack ideas that teens can make or grab quickly—and why improving just one snack a day can make a meaningful difference over time.
🎁 Grab my free list of 20 Easy High-Protein Snacks for Teens here:
👉 https://lifestyleforteens.com/snacks
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, I explain:
- Why school lunches can be a turning point for weight gain in teens
- What a major JAMA Pediatrics study found about improved school meal standards
- How small changes in the school food environment can led to improvements in BMI for more than 14,000 kids aged 5–18
- Simple ways parents and teens can team up around school lunches:
- Talking about cafeteria choices
- Packing balanced homemade lunches (even just 1–2 times per week)
- Swapping juice and sugary snacks for water, protein, fruits, and veggies
- Working with schools or PTAs to encourage healthier option
- If your teen eats at school most days and you’re worried about their weight, hormones, or energy, this episode will give you practical, realistic ideas to start using this week.
🔗 Referenced Study:
Chandran A, Burjak M, Petimar J, et al. Changes in Body Mass Index Among School-Aged Youths Following Implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. JAMA Pediatrics. 2023;177(4):401–409. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5828
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode of The Lifestyle and Weight Loss for Teens Podcast, Dr. Jenny Gourgari answers one of the most common questions from parents:
“Will my teen slim down after puberty?”
Learn why some weight gain is expected, how to spot when it’s a red flag, and what habits truly help teens reach a healthy weight before adulthood.
Backed by research and filled with practical advice, this episode will empower both parents and teens to take charge of their health during this critical window.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Can tracking your steps really help you reach a healthier weight? In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari breaks down the science behind step goals for teens. She shares a major study that pinpoints the magic number for teens: 10,000–12,000 steps a day.
You’ll also learn 10 creative ways to reach your daily step goal.
This episode is a must-listen for any teen or parent who wants to build healthy habits without stress or pressure.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari dives into five common myths about belly fat in teenagers—from sit-ups and detox teas to the truth about carbs and hormones.
Discover what actually works to reduce belly fat safely and naturally during puberty.
Perfect for teens and parents who want real answers, not quick fixes.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, I share 10 simple but powerful ways for teens to stay motivated while building healthy habits.
From morning routines and accountability to small rewards and positive self-talk, you’ll learn exactly how to keep going—even when it’s hard.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
What should you do if your family keeps bringing home pizza, chips, and soda while you’re trying to eat healthier?
In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari shares 10 real-life strategies that teens can use to stay on track—even if their family isn’t on the same page (yet).
✅ How to start a supportive family conversation
✅ Grocery shopping swaps that work
✅ How to create a healthy snack station just for you
✅ Fun ways to get siblings involved
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari talks about something many teens struggle with—comparing themselves to others on social media. She shares 10 practical strategies to protect your peace, reduce self-sabotage, and use social media in a healthier way. You’ll learn how to spot toxic content, set boundaries, build self-worth, and focus on your own progress.
Listen now and take back your confidence.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Feeling frustrated that your healthy eating and workouts aren’t paying off? You’re not alone.
In this video, I share 10 ways teens can stay motivated even when the scale doesn’t move.
From non-scale wins to habit trackers, learn how to build long-term results that stick.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Summer break is here… and so is the boredom snacking. In this episode, I explain why teens often eat out of boredom and what to do about it.
You’ll learn how dopamine plays a role in food cravings and how to use 10 simple strategies—like “urge surfing,” boredom busters, and structured meal times—to feel better without snacking all day.
Small habits = huge results!
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Not all breakfasts are created equal—and cereal, toast, and juice might not be the best start to your teen’s day. In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari shares her top 5 favorite high-protein breakfast ideas for teens, explains why protein and fiber matter, and offers simple prep tips for busy mornings.
🎧 Plus, check out past episodes on skipping breakfast (Ep 35),
choosing healthy carbs (Ep 41), a
nd how much protein teens need (Ep 52).
📥 Download the free high-protein recipe guide: lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Does your teen head to the pantry when they’re stressed, bored, or sad? You’re not alone. In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari breaks down why emotional eating is common in teenagers, how puberty hormones (like cortisol, estrogen, and leptin) play a big role, and what parents can do to help without shaming or controlling.
You’ll learn:
- Why late-night snacking may be about feelings, not hunger
- How hormone shifts drive cravings
- The role of parental modeling in emotional eating
- Simple tools to help your teen develop better coping skills
🎧 Want to learn how to open up healthy conversations with your teen?
Download my free guide:
👉 15 Ways to Talk to Your Teen
Listen to these episodes for more:
- Ep 48: Understanding How Leptin Levels Change During Puberty
- Ep 55: How Puberty Hormones Affect Weight Gain in Teens
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
One of the teenagers I work with asked me, “Does smoking help you lose weight?”
It’s a common myth—and the science says no.
In this episode, I dive into a powerful study of over 1,000 teenagers that looked at the connection between smoking, weight loss attempts, and nutrition. What it found is shocking: many normal-weight teenage girls who tried to lose weight were twice as likely to start smoking.
🚭 You’ll learn:
- Why this myth is so common among teenagers
- What the data says about smoking, BMI, and weight loss
- How smoking habits cluster with poor nutrition and alcohol use
- Why we must talk to teenagers about healthy habits early
🎧 Tune in to bust this myth and learn how to support your teen the healthy way.
🎁 Free recipe guide: lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, I’m sharing 15 powerful ways you can support your teen’s health journey—without sounding like you're nagging them. Every time you remind them to eat better or get moving and they roll their eyes... I get it! It's frustrating when you're trying to help but it feels like you're being tuned out.
I’ll walk you through small communication shifts that can lead to big results, like:
- What to say instead of “Why didn’t you exercise today?”
- How to time your advice so they’ll actually listen
- 75 real-life examples you can use today!
✨ Grab the free cheat sheet with all 15 tips + 75 real-life example phrases you can use at lifestyleforteens.com/talk
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Should teens count calories to get to a healthy weight? It sounds like a smart plan, but for growing bodies and developing minds, it's more complicated than it seems.
In this episode, I walk you through:
- The pros and cons of calorie counting in teens
- Real-world examples from my work with adolescents
- What the research actually says about tracking calories
- When it might help—and when it might harm
- What to try instead: like the plate method and habit tracking
Whether you're a teen, a parent, or someone who supports adolescents, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and practical tools. Let's build healthy habits without obsession.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
n today’s episode, I answer a question many parents feel awkward asking: Can boys grow breasts during puberty? The answer is yes—but there’s more to the story.
We'll break down:
- What causes puffy nipples in boy and when it’s totally normal
- When breast development in boys needs a doctor’s evaluation
- How extra weight can affect hormones like estrogen and testosterone
- What to do if your teen feels embarrassed to take off his shirt
- What lifestyle changes can help
Teenage boys go through big hormonal shifts too—and they deserve compassion, understanding, and good info. Tune in to learn how to support your teen with confidence.
📝 Sign up for weekly tips at: lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Are you wondering if exercise can help hunger hormones in teens?
How much cardio is really enough for teenagers?
Can too much cardio mess with puberty hormones? In this episode, I break down:
- What the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
- The difference between moderate and vigorous activity
- How cardio impacts hormones like leptin and insulin
- Creative ideas to help your teen move more — even if they hate the gym
- How overtraining can harm metabolism, especially in teen girls
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
It’s one of the most common—and least talked about—questions I get from teenage boys and their parents.
In this episode, I’m breaking down the real science behind penis size, puberty, and weight gain. You’ll learn the difference between a buried penis (when fat tissue hides the penis) and a truly small penis, and why many boys worry unnecessarily during puberty.
I also explain:
- When penis size actually changes (hint: it doesn’t before puberty!)
- Why extra belly fat can make the penis look smaller
- What to do if your teen is feeling anxious about their body
- When to see a doctor for evaluation
🎁 Grab my free high-protein recipe bundle for teens at lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this week’s episode I break it all down:
💉 Which injections are FDA-approved for teens
📊 What the research actually shows (hint: 70% of teens saw results—but lifestyle mattered too)
⚠️ Common side effects you need to know
⏳ And what happens when you stop taking the medication
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, I’m answering a question I hear all the time from teens and their parents: Are weight loss pills safe for a 14-year-old?
I explain the difference between prescription medications and over-the-counter pills, what the risks are, and why healthy habits matter most.
If you’ve been wondering about weight loss medications for teens, I break it all down for you in simple, clear language.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode of Lifestyle and Weight Loss for Teens, I’m answering one of the most common questions I hear: “How much weight can I lose in a week or in a month?”
The answer might surprise you! I’m breaking down what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for healthy weight loss in teens, why fast weight loss can actually hurt your metabolism, and how small, consistent changes can lead to long-term success. I’ll also share why having the right kind of support can make all the difference.
🎯 Safe, sustainable, and realistic—that’s what we’re aiming for!
📩 Want support on your journey? Join the waitlist when I open my program for enrolment:
https://members.lifestyleforteens.com/f/join-the-waiting-list-for-the-next-coaching-group-of-the-lift-program
🎁 And don’t forget to grab your FREE resources to get started!
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, I’m talking about something we don’t talk about enough—how food affects your mood. Teenagers often struggle with stress, low energy, and feeling down. But did you know that what you eat can play a big role in how your brain functions?
I break down 5 powerful ways that food affects mental health, share key nutrients like folate, magnesium, and omega-3s that help your brain, and explain what foods to eat more of (and what to skip). Plus, I review a research study published in the American Journal of Public Health that shows just how connected food and mental health really are.
O'Neil A, Quirk SE, Housden S, Brennan SL, Williams LJ, Pasco JA, Berk M, Jacka FN. Relationship between diet and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review. Am J Public Health. 2014 Oct;104(10):e31-42. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302110. PMID: 25208008; PMCID: PMC4167107.
This is a must-listen if you want to feel better, think more clearly, and understand how your food can fuel your brain!
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, I answer a question I get all the time from teens I work with: “Are carbs bad if I’m trying to lose weight?”
The short answer? No, carbs are not the enemy!
In fact, your body needs carbs—especially during puberty—to grow, to have energy, and to keep your hormones balanced.
I’ll walk you through:
- The difference between whole food carbs and processed carbs
- Why cutting carbs too much can actually hurt your health
- Easy swaps that make a big impact
- How to still enjoy pizza, chips, and even soda without guilt
This episode is all about finding balance and learning how to choose the right kinds of carbs that support your goals—without cutting out food groups or feeling restricted.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
Smoothies are popular—but are they actually helpful for teens trying to reach a healthy weight?
In this episode, I share:
- What makes a smoothie healthy (and what doesn’t!)
- Research showing how smoothies boosted teen fruit intake from 4% to 45%
- The perfect formula for a smoothie that keeps teens full and balanced
- How to sneak veggies into smoothies without the “yuck” factor
Plus, I’m giving you a free gift 🎁
👉 Download my Smoothie Recipe Guide with 15 easy, tasty recipes for teens!
https://lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode ,I breaks down the science behind active video games.
Learn how movement-based games can support teen’s journey to a healthier weight—and what really matters for long-term success.
Research mentioned in this episode:
Comeras-Chueca C, Marin-Puyalto J, Matute-Llorente A, Vicente-Rodriguez G, Casajus J, Gonzalez-Aguero A
Effects of Active Video Games on Health-Related Physical Fitness and Motor Competence in Children and Adolescents With Overweight or Obesity: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
JMIR Serious Games 2021;9(4):e29981
URL: https://games.jmir.org/2021/4/e29981
DOI: 10.2196/29981
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In today’s episode i break down what ultra-processed foods are—and why they matter more than you think. I reviews a 2025 study from Pediatric Obesity that shows a strong link between ultra-processed food intake and increased belly fat, higher BMI, and hormonal imbalances in teens.
You’ll learn:
- What counts as ultra-processed food (hint: it’s more common than you think!)
- Why even “healthy-looking” snacks like protein bars can lead to weight gain
- How these foods affect your gut, hormones, and cravings
- And simple swaps you can make today for better energy, healthier weight, and a happier belly
This episode is packed with tips you can start using right away—whether you're a teen or a parent helping your teen feel better in their body!
👉 Sign up for my weekly newsletter at lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode I discuss the impact of excessive weight on liver function in teenagers. I talk about liver inflammation and potential liver problems.
A recent study linked excessive screen time with increased risk of liver fibrosis in adolescents.
Tune in to learn more and dont forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at https://lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, I talk about the science behind water and weight loss. I’m sharing a study that analyzed 13 different research papers and found that teens who drink more water tend to maintain a healthier weight over time.
🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ How drinking more water can help reduce calorie intake without effort
✔️ Why we sometimes mistake thirst for hunger and how to fix it
✔️ How proper hydration boosts energy and makes movement easier
✔️ A fun theory on how cold water might slightly boost metabolism
✔️ Simple ways to increase your daily water intake
Research mentioned in this episode:
Muckelbauer R, Barbosa CL, Mittag T, Burkhardt K, Mikelaishvili N, Müller-Nordhorn J. Association between water consumption and body weight outcomes in children and adolescents: a systematic review. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2014 Dec;22(12):2462-75. doi: 10.1002/oby.20911. PMID: 25401930.
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode, I discuss about body image issues faced by teenagers, sparked by a teen's story involving concerns over exercise due to body shame. There are physical and emotional changes during puberty that contribute to body image problems.
Self-compassion and acceptance,rather than the weight itself, influences body image.
I present some practical tips for promoting self-love and strategies for building self-love.
00:00 Introduction and Personal Story
00:53 Understanding Puberty and Body Changes
03:36 The Impact of Unhealthy Weight
04:41 The Importance of Self-Compassion
07:03 Research Insights on Body Image
08:47 Encouraging Healthy Behaviors
12:18 Conclusion and Practical Tips
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
This podcast episode explores the relationship between sleep duration and insulin resistance in teenagers, building on previous discussions about insulin resistance during puberty.
It highlights the importance of teenagers getting the recommended 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night and presents statistics showing that 70-80% of U.S. teenagers fail to meet this requirement.
Two key studies are discussed: one showing that advanced puberty stages are linked to reduced sleep duration, and another indicating that teenagers sleeping less than six hours have higher levels of insulin resistance.
Practical tips are provided to help teens gradually increase their sleep duration, which can improve insulin resistance and balance puberty hormones.
00:00 Introduction to Sleep and Insulin Resistance
01:11 Importance of Sleep for Teenagers
02:23 Studies Linking Sleep and Insulin Resistance
05:07 Practical Tips for Better Sleep
06:17 Conclusion and Future Topics
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
In this episode I focus on the hormone insulin and its significant role in regulating blood sugar levels and weight. I explain how insulin resistance can develop due to high carbohydrate intake and excess weight gain, leading to potential diabetes. I also discuss the body's insulin response variations with different body shapes and I emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy weight to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Finally, I offer practical tips for teenagers to improve their insulin resistance through lifestyle changes, noting that these changes can help prevent diabetes and ensure a healthier pancreas.
00:00 Introduction to Insulin and Its Importance
02:40 Understanding Insulin Resistance
04:40 Impact of Insulin Resistance on Teen Health
07:03 Factors Contributing to Insulin Resistance
10:51 Reversing Insulin Resistance with Healthy Habits
12:36 Conclusion and Takeaways
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
What Happens During Puberty?
Puberty is a time when teenagers go through a lot of changes in their bodies and inside because of big hormonal shifts.
Listen to Understand Puberty: External and Internal Changes
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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.
Parents are urged to consult a dietitian for personalized advice and focus on making small, manageable changes.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/nutrition/Pages/A-Teenagers-Nutritional-Needs.aspx
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:55 Welcome and Episode Overview
01:02 Caloric Needs for Teens
04:08 General Dietary Guidelines
06:22 Healthy Eating Tips
07:39 Understanding Carbohydrates
08:56 Caution on Restrictive Diets
10:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
11:12 Invitation to the Lift Program
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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 calculate your protein needs and plan meals accordingly.
01:10 Understanding Protein Needs for Teens
01:44 Calculating Protein Requirements
04:31 Sources of Protein
10:40 Importance of Protein for Teenagers
15:25 Conclusion and Next Steps
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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—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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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 Experiential Cooking and Nutrition Education Program Increases Cooking Self-Efficacy and Vegetable Consumption in Children in Grades 3–8 by Elizabeth Jarpe-Ratner et al
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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 boosted their body satisfaction and self-esteem.
Title of manuscript:
BodyThink program-based body image education improves Korean adolescents’ attitudes toward cosmetic surgery: randomized controlled trial.
Sung et al. BMC Nursing (2023) 22:481
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 whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
📲 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly emails packed with easy tips, clinical insights, and practical tools
🎁 Grab your FREE high-protein recipe guide with 30 meals teens will love.
Links30 Healthy Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
Smoothies Recipes for teens
lifestyleforteens.com/smoothies
Subscribe to my newsletter
lifestyleforteens.com/newsletter
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 girls during puberty, and the curious phenomenon of leptin resistance that leaves many teens struggling with increased appetites.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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.
Associations ofWeekday and Weekend Sleep with Children’s Reported Eating in the Absence of Hunger. Nutrients 2019, 11, 1658; doi:10.3390/nu11071658
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 Adulthood: A Group-based Dual Trajectory Analysis
David Y.C. Huanga, H. Isabella Lanzab, and M. Douglas Anglinc
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 Mar 21. PMID: 21419674.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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. doi: 10.2337/dc11-1281. Epub 2012 Jan 25. PMID: 22279034; PMCID: PMC3322712.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 hormones. Ann Nutr Metab. 2015;66(2-3):93-103. doi: 10.1159/000365933. Epub 2015 Jan 23. PMID: 25612907.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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, Persson LA, Vessby B. Insulin resistance syndrome in adolescents. Metabolism. 1996 Jul;45(7):908-14. doi: 10.1016/s0026-0495(96)90168-7. PMID: 8692030.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 decreased by long-term interdisciplinary lifestyle therapy correlated positively with interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor–α and negatively with adiponectin levels in obese adolescents. By Fábio Santos Liraa et al
Metabolism Clinical and Experimental 60 (2011) 359–365
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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
Martin Cartwright, Jane Wardle, Naomi Steggles, Alice E. Simon, Helen Croker, and Martin J. Jarvis
Listen to learn more
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 lifestyle.
Details of the research manuscript that gave the answer to this question:
Motivations for weight loss in adolescents with overweight and obesity: a systematic review. David Franciole Oliveira Silva1, Karine Cavalcanti Maurício Sena-Evangelista2, Clélia Oliveira Lyra2, Lucia Fátima Campos Pedrosa2, Ricardo Fernando Arrais3 and Severina Carla Vieira Cunha Lima2
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 optimal cardiovascular health, essential pillars for lifelong health.
In this episode, we dive deep into the significance of muscle in regulating insulin sensitivity and offer practical tips that teens can apply to stay healthy.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 nurturing healthy habits in young people, I break down the complex relationship between skipping breakfast and weight outcomes. Whether you're a mom on a mission to assist your teen's weight loss journey or a listener keen on understanding the nuances of nutrition for adolescents, this podcast is your research-backed compass, pointing the way to informed decisions about your teen's diet and well-being.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 difference between sport and energy drinks. Hydration and a balanced diet are key to adolescent health, and we'll emphasize why water still reigns supreme and how electrolyte replenishment drinks may not be as necessary as advertised.
Don't forget to always consult your family doctor before making any major changes in your teen's diet.
Here is the manuscript :
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS| CLINICAL REPORT| JUNE 01 2011 Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks for Children and Adolescents: Are They Appropriate? Committee on Nutrition and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness Pediatrics (2011) 127 (6): 1182–1189.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 promote unrealistic beauty standards and can increase body weight dissatisfaction, primarily due to the comparisons teenagers make between their own lives and the ones they see online.
Tune in to learn more about this study and what you can do to help avoid this.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 sadness. Even if we end up with some extra weight, it is still OK.
Happy Holidays !
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
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 overall healthy habits and lifestyle changes instead of solely focusing on weight may be the key to this transformation.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Looking to understand more the reality behind your child's fast food habits and its impact on their health? I dive into a research study by Dr. Bowman, assessing the effects of fast food consumption on the energy intake and diet quality among thousands of children. We'll explore how this fast food frenzy has taken a toll on our children's health, increasing not only their caloric intake but also sabotaging their diet quality by diminishing their consumption of healthier food options.
The accessibility of fast food in our communities, including schools and after-school activities is so alarming. Teenagers are consuming more fast food options than younger children, and it's vital we understand why to promote better habits.
You'll gain perspective on how these unhealthy meals skyrocket daily caloric intake and how it affects the overall eating habits.
Shanthy A. Bowman, Steven L. Gortmaker, Cara B. Ebbeling, Mark A. Pereira, David S. Ludwig; Effects of Fast-Food Consumption on Energy Intake and Diet Quality Among Children in a National Household Survey. Pediatrics January 2004;
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Imagine the profound impact if we could disentangle body satisfaction and self-esteem among our teenagers?
Dr Gourgari presents research that was done to explore the crucial link between body image and self-esteem amongst our youth.
"Body Image and Self-Esteem Among Adolescent Girls: Testing the Influence
of Sociocultural Factors. Daniel Clay et al "
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Ever wondered how overall movement, screen time, and sleep contribute to a teenager's overall health? We go over into the 24-hour movement recommendations for kids, drawn from a great study in the Journal of Pediatric Obesity. This episode takes you through the science of these recommendations and sheds light on their relationship with unhealthy weight indicators in young ones.
The title of this research manuscript is:
Are 24-hour movement recommendations associated with obesity-related indicators in the young population? A meta-analysis. José Francisco L opez-Gil et al
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
What if the very diets teenagers follow to lose weight are the culprits behind weight gain and unhealthy eating habits? We're shaking things up with an in-depth exploration of a groundbreaking study that turns conventional dieting wisdom on its head.
But it's not just about exposing the dark side of teenage dieting. So forget the dieting myths you've heard - we're starting a new conversation about achieving a healthier lifestyle.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Do you ever wonder if your child's weight could be impacting their mental health?
Dr Gourgari presents a fascinating study from Sweden detailing how excess weight can potentially lead to mental health issues in youngsters.
Why does this happen?
If we know why, we can potentially address these underlying factors and help children be in a better mental state.
The title of the research that is presented is "Anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with obesity: a nationwide study in Sweden", Lindberg et al. BMC Medicine (2020) 18:30
Tune in to uncover the science behind safe weight loss for teens and understand the mental health challenges they could face.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
It can be difficult for families to go in person to multiple appointments to address the weight concerns they have for their children. Especially after the COVID pandemic, more people started developing online programs for weight management for both adults and children.
The question is : Do these virtual telehealth programs work? Are they at least equally effective as the in person visits ?
Here is one study that tried to answer this question:
The study I present is called " *Comparison of a Telehealth-Based Intensive Treatment Program with a Rewarding App vs. On-Site Care for Youth with Obesity: A Historical Cohort Study"
Hope you enjoy this episode!*
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Parents often express concerns about their children's extra weight and may even dismiss it, believing that it's a phase they will eventually outgrow. But what does the science say about this issue? In this podcast episode, we'll dive into the insights from a fascinating scientific study .
This study followed thousands of children from their early years into adulthood to investigate the long-term consequences of childhood weight and whether kids truly "outgrow" extra weight.
Here is the study I will present:
Prediction of Adult Class II/III Obesity from Childhood BMI: The i3C ConsortiumInt J Obes (Lond). 2020 May
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Many of us associate summer with outdoor activities and healthier living, but research suggests that this isn't always the case. In this podcast, we will explore more the reasons behind summer weight gain in teens, its impact on their health, and practical strategies for parents to help their children maintain a healthy lifestyle year-round.
This is a review study that I present here
"The State of the Summer, A Review of Child Summer Weight Gain and Efforts to Prevent It," published in Current Obesity Reports in 2018.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Want to learn more about how to control the cravings during teen years?
Here is a tip: Sleep better!
I present the research below:
"*Associations of Sleep with Food Cravings, Diet, and Obesity in Adolescence
Nutrients 2019, 11, 2899; doi:10.3390/nu11122899"
Hope you find this helpful!*
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
White or brown rice?
White or brown pasta?
Whole wheat or white bread?
Whole grain versus refined grain can be another small change you can implement to improve your child's insulin sensitivity and risk for diabetes. A great study was done in children that measured that effect in the lab.
The details of this study are :
Whole Grain Intake Is Associated with Lower Body Mass and Greater Insulin Sensitivity among Adolescents
Lyn M. Steffen1, David R. Jacobs, Jr.1, Maureen A. Murtaugh1, Antoinette Moran2, Julia Steinberger2, Ching-Ping Hong1, and Alan R. Sinaiko2
Am J Epidemiol 2003;158:243–250
I hope this episode is helpful to you. If so, feel free to share it with your friends and family, so that more people can benefit from it.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
A lot of teens and children suffer from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ie ADHD. It is estimated that around 10% of children have ADHD. Some of them take medications for it, others dont.
In this episode, I present a research study that investigated the risk to be overweight in children and adolescents in relation to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and medication use for ADHD.
The details of this study are :
Overweight in Children and Adolescents in Relation to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Results From a National Sample
Molly E. Waring, MA, Kate L. Lapane, PhD
PEDIATRICS Volume 122, Number 1, July 2008
I hope you find this episode helpful. If you do, please share it on your social media account, with your friends and family. Someone else might need to hear this message and benefit from it.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Teenagers spend a significant amount of time on social media, mostly on their phones, scrolling through their newsfeeds on platforms such as Facebook, Tik-Tok, IG.
How does social media use can affect risk for overweight?
I present here this research:
Time spent on social media use and BMI z-score: A cross-sectional explanatory pathway analysis of 10798 14-year-old boys and girls Campbell Foubister, Russell Jago, Stephen J. Sharp, Esther M. F. van Sluijs
Hope you enjoy this episode.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
There are three popular dietary styles used in teens who struggle to lose weight:
- Low carbohydrate dietary plan
- Low glycemic index dietary plan
- Portion control dietary plan
Which one is more effective in achieving a healthy weight in teens?
Here I present data from this research that answered this question:
Kirk S, Brehm B, Saelens BE, Woo JG, Kissel E, D'Alessio D, Bolling C, Daniels SR.
Role of carbohydrate modification in weight management among obese children: a randomized clinical trial. J Pediatr. 2012 Aug;161(2):320-7.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.01.041. Epub 2012 Feb 28. PMID: 22381024; PMCID: PMC3406261.
Hope you enjoy this episode and if so, please share it with your friends and family.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
American academy of Pediatrics recommends that teenagers sleep at least 8-10 hours every night.
However, according to data from CDC, more than 2 out of 3 students in middle schools and high schools do not get the recommended amount of sleep.
What is the effect of chronic sleep restriction on what these students choose to eat?
Listen to learn more
Here I present research that was done to answer this question.
The manuscript i present is :
Beebe DW, Simon S, Summer S, Hemmer S, Strotman D, Dolan LM. Dietary intake following experimentally restricted sleep in adolescents. Sleep. 2013 Jun 1;36(6):827-34. doi: 10.5665/sleep.2704. PMID: 23729925; PMCID: PMC3649825.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Caffeine consumption is common among teenagers. A lot of people think caffeine is just in coffee or tea. However, the most common source of caffeine intake in teens is soda !
Why teens crave caffeine?
What is considered high and what is low caffeine intake consumption?
What is the effect of caffeine in teens appetite for high sugar / low fat foods?
Listen to learn more !
The manuscript I present is :
Temple JL, Dewey AM, Briatico LN.
Effects of acute caffeine administration on adolescents.
Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010 Dec;18(6):510-20. doi: 10.1037/a0021651. PMID: 21186925.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Use of non-caloric sweeteners, like stevia, aspartame, sucralose and others has increased significantly in the recent years. These products are very attractive because they dont have any calories, they dont have any sugar, so people like to consume them believing they can eat more of their favorite drinks and lose weight.
Is this really the case? We dont have all the answers we would like to have on this topic, but the American Academy of Pediatrics has published a policy statement on the use of sweeteners in children.
The manuscript I present is:
The use of Nonnutritive Sweeteners in Children
The American Academy of Pediatrics, Policy Statements, November 2019
Hope you find it helpful!
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Teasing teens about their weight is very common.
People that are actually friends and family can tease teens for their weight because they find it funny, or innocent, or they are just so used to it, they dont even think about it twice.
But.. is weight teasing really innocent?
In this episode I describe research that looked at the association of weight teasing with emotional well-being of teens.
Here is the actual manuscript I present:
Eisenberg ME, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M. Associations of weight-based teasing and emotional well-being among adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003 Aug;157(8):733-8. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.157.8.733. PMID: 12912777.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Sometimes I hear parents and teens having concerns around the effect of exercise on academic performance. It is a valid concern, because what if devoting time for exercise -instead of spending it to do homework -will have an adverse effect of school grades?
Research has been done to investigate whether there is an association between physical activity and grades at schools.
The research I discuss in this episode is the following, hope you find it helpful.
Coe DP, Pivarnik JM, Womack CJ, Reeves MJ, Malina RM.
Effect of physical education and activity levels on academic achievement in children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006 Aug;38(8):1515-9. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000227537.13175.1b. PMID: 16888468.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Intensive exercise can help improve insulin sensitivity, but often teens do not have enough time to devote to organized types of exercise. Can multiple 3 minutes walk help with insulin sensitivity?
I discussed a research project that examined this exact question, hope you find it helpful.
Diabetes Care. 2018 Oct; 41(10): 2220–2228.
Effects of Interrupting Sedentary Behavior With Short Bouts of Moderate Physical Activity on Glucose Tolerance in Children With Overweight and Obesity: A Randomized Crossover TrialDr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
A common fear I hear a lot from parents who have teens who struggle with their weight is that they are scared their teens might develop body image issues after enrolling in a program that helps them change their habits.
In this episode, I present a research study that examined whether an online based program for teens can work. In particular, in this study, researchers looked not only at the effect of the program on weight loss, but also the effect it had on eating disorder symptoms.
"Reduction of overweight and eating disorder symptoms via the Internet in adolescents: A randomized controlled trial."
Angela Celio Doyle et al, J Adolesc Health. 2008 August
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
In this episode, I describe research that examined whether using larger dishware affects how much food children are eating.
This was published in the journal of Pediatrics 2013;131;e1451
by Yasmeen Bruton and Jennifer O. Fisher Katherine I. DiSantis, Leann L. Birch, Adam Davey, Elena L. Serrano, Jun Zhang,
"Portions and Intake Plate Size and Children's Appetite: Effects of Larger Dishware on Self-Served"
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
In this episode, I talk about this scientific article :
Sugar-added beverages and adolescent weight change.
Obes Res. 2004 May;12(5):778-88. doi: 10.1038/oby.2004.94. PMID: 15166298.
Use this to start a discussion with your teen about sodas.
Hope you find it helpful.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
In this episode, I talk about research that examined the importance of having parents eating family dinners with their kids.
I discuss this article:
Is frequency of shared family meals related to the nutritional health of children and adolescents?
Pediatrics. 2011 Jun;127(6):e1565-74. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-1440. Epub 2011 May 2. PMID: 21536618; PMCID: PMC3387875.
Use this as a starting point to evaluate your family's dinner habits.
Hope it is helpful.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
If your family tends to overeat during the Holidays and then end up feeling sorry for your choices, then this episode is for you.
This Special podcast episode will give you 7 tips on how to stay healthy during Holidays.
Happy Holidays!
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
In this episode, I talk about this research article:
Relationship of Physical Activity and Television Watching With Body Weight and Level of Fatness Among Children: Results From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
JAMA. 1998;279(12):938–942. doi:10.1001/jama.279.12.938
You can discuss this with your teen and get the conversation going .
Hope you find it helpful.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
In this episode, I discuss research that was published in the following scientific journal:
Is Sleep Duration Associated With Childhood Obesity? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisObesity (2008) 16, 265–274. doi:10.1038/oby.2007.63
I encourage you to have a discussion with your teen about this.I hope it will help them understand the importance of good sleep.
Dr Gourgari is a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine expert and weight loss coach for teens with more than 15 years of experience. She helps teens build healthy habits that last, so they can feel happier, be more confident and love their body again .
To get a free copy of 30 healthy and easy recipes for teens that are high in protein, visit
https://lifestyleforteens.com/recipes
To learn more about the LIFT Program, visit lifestyleforteens.com/program
Is the type of snack important for healthy eating?
I present a research study that was published in the Obesity Journal in 2022
"Association of weight status with the types of foods consumed
at snacking occasions among US adolescents"
If you are looking for healthy snack ideas for teens, grab my free guide at LIFESTYLEFORTEENS.COM/SNACKS
Enjoy
Dr G.
What is Body Mass Index?
How much weight does my child need to lose to be at a healthy weight?
I start this podcast by answering these basic questions.
I hope its helpful.
If you like this episode, share it with your friends.
Best,
Dr Go
Dr Gourgari talks about research that investigates the relationship between watching TV and unhealthy weight!
If you like the episode, please share it with your friends!