Columbus, Ga. (September 22, 2025) – According to the National Institutes of Health, about 1 in 6 children are overweight and about 1 in 5 have obesity. Those numbers are steadily increasing and are higher in certain ethnicities and income levels. Piedmont Columbus Regional is expanding its bariatrics program to help provide children and teens with a new beginning.
Piedmont Physicians Surgical Specialists and Bariatrics will be the first in the Chattahoochee Valley to perform metabolic bariatric surgery on children and teens. They are also partnering with Piedmont Clinic pediatrician Neha Potini, M.D., to provide supervised weight loss for children and teens through lifestyle and medication management.
“Obesity can lead to serious health problems like type II diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and cancer,” Dr. Potini explains. “It’s important to help kids improve their health before they become adults and face these issues. Being obese can also make health care more expensive as they age into adulthood.”
“Adolescent bariatric surgeries will be performed minimally invasive at Piedmont Columbus Midtown with help from the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System,” metabolic bariatric surgeon Ken Copperwheat, D.O., says. “The surgeon and clinical staff are in charge of the operation, but robotic assistance allows us to perform high-quality procedures with incredible precision and superior results.”
Patients will receive postsurgical care at the Bill and Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital. Because the surgery is performed robotically, patients can recover more quickly and have less pain overall.
Piedmont Physicians Surgical Specialists and Bariatrics staff will be there for patients from start to finish.
“What makes our program special is we don’t just offer surgery or medications but also have patient education and clinical support coaching that provides a hassle-free experience,” bariatric and foregut surgeon Jeremy Bryner, D.O., explains. “Patients enjoy encouragement through a support group to connect with others on this transformational journey.”
Visit Piedmont.org/ColumbusWeightLoss to learn more about weight management options, and our comprehensive program.