‘PowerPlay MD-OC’ Opens to Address Childhood Obesity in Orange County

Orange, CA – As the number of obese children in America continues to grow exponentially, new solutions are urgently needed to reverse this epidemic. The Wellness Center , the first comprehensive Pediatric Weight Management Program in Orange County, recently opened a facility to provide a medically based solution for local children.

Long time Orange County resident and Pediatrician Alberto Gedissman’s mission to directly impact childhood obesity is becoming a reality through The Wellness Center . The new center is aligned with PowerPlayMD, the original program started by Dr. Lydie Hazan in 2000, which has been quite successful in the areas of pediatric fitness, nutrition and weight reduction.

The Wellness Center offers a unique eight week intensive weight management program for children and adolescents 4 to 19 years of age, with over 85% Body Mass Index (BMI). The program includes behavior modification, nutrition, fitness, family participation and pediatric medical supervision—all in the comfort and safety of a family friendly space just two blocks from Children’s Hospital Orange County (CHOC). Here children have the hope and opportunity to become lean, fit, self-confident and to greatly reduce their risk of obesity related health conditions.

“Childhood obesity is way off the charts and we must take action now to help this generation,” says Dr. Alberto Gedissman, CEO and Medical Director of The Wellness Center . “Aside from the immediate concerns of being obese, children are at a much higher risk of becoming Diabetics and having heart attacks in their 20’s and 30’s if we don’t reverse the trend. Recent statistics suggest that there are at least 120,000 children at risk in Orange County alone and we’re here to help with a sound, medically based approach.”

Under the direction of Dr. Gedissman and supervision of referring physicians, children are educated about the impact of being overweight and related long term health problems. According to Dr. Gedissman, past medical studies have reported that the majority of obese children come from poverty stricken families. However, he asserts that obesity is now a concern for children from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds and that this is a pediatric medical problem of epic proportion.

The The Wellness Center program includes 8 weekly, two-hour sessions. The first half of each session consists of practical and entertaining educational tools, which expose children to nutritional and behavioral changes. The second half is dedicated to a unique, comprehensive fitness curriculum. Upon completing the initial eight-week program, children may continue in maintenance programs designed to reinforce the core education they acquire during PowerPlay.

““The United States Surgeon General recommends that any weight management program for children should be supervised by a physician,” adds Dr. Gedissman. “ The Wellness Center is exactly that type of program and we are actively reaching out to insurance companies as well as community and government leaders to make our program accessible and affordable to as many families as possible.”

The launch of The Wellness Center represents the first time families in Orange County have had access to this level of health education and training. The program is certain to improve the health and well-being of thousands of children and provide Orange County with the resource to do its parts to end childhood obesity.

For more information about The Wellness Center and its comprehensive, medically directed weight management program call 1-877-LEAN KID (532-6543) or visit www.leankids.net.

About Dr. Alberto Gedissman
Alberto Gedissman, M.D., M.M.M., F.A.A.P., is the CEO and Medical Director of The Wellness Center , the first comprehensive Pediatric Weight Management Program in Orange County. Dr. Gedissman has spent most of his professional life focusing on the health needs of children in Southern California and informing parents nationwide about potential health risks and solutions. He is now on a mission to impact one of America’s greatest epidemics—Childhood Obesity. >> For More Information