Lifestyle and Weight Loss For Teens
Struggling to help your teen get to a healthy weight—without crash diets, stress, or shame?
This podcast is for teens who want to feel better in their bodies—and for parents who want to support their kids the right way.
Hosted by Dr. Jenny Gourgari, a pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine, and teen weight loss coach with over 15 years of experience, this podcast focuses on balancing puberty hormones, building healthy habits, and understanding the real science behind teen weight and wellness.
Each week, Dr. Gourgari answers real questions like:
🧠 Why do I feel hungry all the time?
🍞 Are carbs bad for teens trying to lose weight?
🎮 Can active video games actually help with fitness?
🍓 Are smoothies helpful—or just sugar bombs?
💤 How does sleep affect my weight?
You’ll learn how puberty hormones impact your mood, metabolism, and energy—and how small changes in your routine can make a big difference.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start understanding the why behind what’s happening in your teen body—or help your child do the same—hit follow and tune in every week.
🎁 BONUS: 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
Episodes
63 episodes
Ep. 63 Smoothies for Teen Weight Loss: Good or Bad?
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 fru...
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11:35
Ep. 62 Can Video Games Help Teens Lose Weight?
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 menti...
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12:30
Ep.61 Ultra-Processed Foods: The Hidden Reason Behind Belly Fat in Teens
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 bell...
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12:03
Ep.60 Is Screen Time Silently Hurting Your Teen’s Liver?
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 fi...
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11:15
Ep. 59 Does Drinking More Water Actually Help Teens Lose Weight?
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.🔹 ...
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12:10
Ep. 58 Being Happy with Me: Teen Body Changes and Self-Love
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 pro...
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17:21
Ep.57 The Sleep-Sugar Link: What's Happening to Teens?
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 t...
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9:30
Ep. 56 Understanding Insulin : How a Teen's Body Handles Sugar
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 diabe...
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16:35
Ep.55 How puberty hormones affect weight gain in teens
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
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15:42
Ep.54 Hungry or Bored Teens? Learn the Difference
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.
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17:08
Ep. 53 The ideal breakdown of carbs, fats, and proteins for Teens
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 f...
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12:54
Ep. 52. How much proteins do teens need?
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 whol...
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18:44
Ep. 51 How to Create Sustainable Healthy Habits for Teens
In this episode I discuss strategies to achieve healthy habits in 2025.00:59 Setting Goals for a Healthier 202502:41 Focusing on One Goal at a Time05:26 Identifying and Replacing Triggers09:05 Building Consistent He...
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19:29
Ep.50 How Teaching Teens to Cook Can Improve Their Eating Habits
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. <...
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9:05
Ep.49 How a school curriculum helped teens boost their body satisfaction.
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 focu...
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9:03
Ep. 48 Why Teens Have Big Appetite Despite High Leptin (Thin Hormone)
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 Tee...
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12:59
Ep. 47 Weekend Catch-up Sleep and Teen's Eating Habits
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...
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9:04
Ep.46 Weed Use in Teens and Weight Gain
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 pub...
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12:15
Ep.45 School Lunch and Weight Gain in Teens
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 Envir...
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10:09
Ep.44 Why teenage girls have more body fat than boys
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. ...
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11:44
Ep 43. Why is it hard for girls with PCOS to lose weight?
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 ...
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15:07
Ep 42. Can a 12 year old child have insulin resistance?
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, ...
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10:43
Ep.41 Is It Healthy For Teens To Eat Oatmeal Or Corn Flakes For Breakfast?
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, Av...
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11:25