Teen Wellness Specialist

Teens face the challenge of transitioning from children to adults in a few short years. Fiona Carroll, MD, of Child & Adolescent Health Center in Lathrup Village, Michigan, offers teen wellness services to support adolescents with mental, physical, behavioral, and developmental health problems. To ensure your child benefits from teen wellness, call Child & Adolescent Health Center today or book an appointment online.

What is teen wellness?

Teen wellness focuses on young people ages 13-19. These years are often challenging because of the physical and emotional effects of puberty and the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Child & Adolescent Health Center cares for the developmental needs of teens as well as their mental and physical health. The caring pediatricians also provide advice and support to help parents care for their teens.

What areas does teen wellness cover?

Teen wellness might include anything that affects the well-being of young people, but common areas include:

Reproductive health

Girls might have difficulties with menstruation, such as painful, heavy, or irregular periods. Sexual health and birth control advice is also important for all sexes.

Weight problems

Children’s weight commonly goes up and down as they grow and develop, and the hormones released during puberty can influence fat distribution. Therefore, your child might gain weight and lose it naturally as they grow.

However, excessive weight gain can lead to potentially life-threatening conditions like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In addition, body image problems are a serious issue for teens. 

It’s vital to have an experienced pediatrician helping your child to ensure they reach a healthy weight without developing an eating disorder.

Health maintenance and nutrition

Teens often favor unhealthy snacks, fast food, sugary drinks, and candy. Not getting enough exercise is also a common problem because teens spend so much time on the computer, tablet, or phone screens.

Child & Adolescent Health Center helps teens make changes that improve their diet and nutrition. Your teen can also get help with problems like smoking and drinking alcohol.

What mental health problems affect teen wellness?

Mental health and developmental conditions are common causes of teen wellness problems. Disorders most likely to affect teens include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Eating disorders
• Substance abuse
• Chronic stress
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Problems at home or school, pressure from their peers, and difficulties with personal relationships, combined with the hormonal upheaval of puberty, all contribute to struggles with mental health.

Child & Adolescent Health Center offers support and counseling to teens in a non-judgmental, compassionate environment. Your child’s pediatrician also performs developmental and behavioral health screenings for teens to identify any issues that could affect their wellness.

To find out more or arrange a teen wellness visit, call Child & Adolescent Health Center today or book an appointment online.