The Wellness and Weight Management Program at Lurie Children’s provides compassionate and comprehensive outpatient care for families of children and teenagers who have obesity and are looking to improve their health. We see patients as two years old through age 18.
Obesity is the most common medical condition affecting long-term health. Our multidisciplinary team works with families to provide the right tools and information to achieve their health goals.
Children look to their families to model healthy eating and physical activity, so we promote healthy behaviors for the whole family. Supportive families that make changes along with their children usually experience the most all-around success.
We guide parents and their children through small steps that lead to lasting change. At each visit, we help families set health behavior goals related to nutrition and physical activity. As needed, we provide medications to support healthy metabolism. For adolescents interested, we partner with the Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program.
Our Mission
The Lurie Children’s Wellness and Weight Management clinic is a multidisciplinary program that partners with patients and their families to provide holistic, non-judgmental obesity care. We promote sustainable lifestyle changes and offer medical management to optimize a patient’s quality of life, health and well-being.
Our Vision
Safe and accessible healthcare is a human right. We strive to lead our communities in reducing stigma and bias related to body size and promoting overall health through our clinical care, research, education and advocacy.
Our Specialists

Caren Mangarelli, MD
Attending Physician, Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care

Maheen Quadri, MD
Attending Physician, Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care

Sylvia M. Robinson, MD
Attending Physician, Advanced General Pediatrics & Primary Care

Emily Hobbs, MS, RDN, LDN
Registered Dietician

Sarah H. Neault, BSN, MSN, CPNP-PC
Nurse Practitioner for Wellness and Weight Management Clinic

Barbara Pearl, MS, RDN, LDN
Registered Dietitian; Manager, Outpatient Nutrition/Pediatric Dietitian Wellness & Weight Management Clinic

Elissa Williams, MS, APRN, CPNP-PC, CBN
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Certified Bariatric Nurse, Adolescent Bariatric Surgery and Wellness & Weight Management Programs
What to Expect
First Appointment
During the first visit, the physician/advanced practice nurse and dietician will complete a thorough medical review and evaluation. Initial goals will be developed with the family and any appropriate referrals will be made. Initial visits may last 2-2.5 hours; please plan accordingly.
Follow-up Visits
Follow-up appointments are scheduled every 1-4 months to assess progress and adjust goals. These visits may last approximately one hour; please plan accordingly. These visits can be done in-person or via telemedicine.
Surgical Procedures
Lurie Children's offers bariatric surgery in addition to medical weight management services. Directed by Thomas H. Inge, MD, PhD, this option is available for adolescents who meet established criteria.
This multidisciplinary approach provides comprehensive care and includes a pediatric surgeon, registered dietitian, physical therapist, psychologist and social worker. Surgery and follow-up treatment are offered at Lurie Children's Main Hospital and Central DuPage Hospital.
Make an Appointment
To schedule a first-time appointment, please call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS.DOC®). There will be a wait before your first Wellness & Weight Management Program appointment.
To schedule a follow-up appointment in the Wellness and Weight Management Program, or for specific questions or concerns, please call 312.227.6450.
The Wellness & Weight Management Program also offers appointment two days per month in a mobile health unit located on the west side of Chicago in the Austin neighborhood. Learn more about our Mobile Health Unit.
Our Locations
Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Center
25 N. Winfield RoadEast Entrance
Winfield, Illinois 60190
630.933.6631
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park
2515 N. Clark Street/467 W. Deming PlaceChicago, Illinois 60614-3393
1.800.543.7362
Resources & Support
If you are looking to start making changes before the first appointment.
Related News

Addressing Childhood Obesity with Modern Parenting Approaches
Lurie Children’s latest report provides insights into how parents are addressing weight concerns in their children and effective solutions to support healthier lifestyles.

Study Evaluates Treatment Interventions for Severe Obesity in Adolescents
A recent study found that adolescents with severe obesity who received meal-replacement therapy plus financial incentives experienced a greater reduction in body mass index compared to those who received meal replacement therapy alone.

Advocating for Childhood Obesity Treatment & Research with Justin Ryder, PhD
In this episode, Lurie Children’s Justin Ryder, PhD, explains the many ways to manage childhood obesity including the use of injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists that address the biological causes of this disease, weight-loss surgery and other resources available through Lurie Children’s Wellness and Weight Management Program.