Ellen Rome, M.D.

Add save! | | |

iVillage Adolescent Health Expert

Dr. Ellen Rome is a board-certified pediatrician who was among the first in the U.S. to be board certified in adolescent medicine. She currently serves as the section head of adolescent medicine at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital. Her research interests also include eating disorders, preventive health and wellness and reproductive health. She is also a regular contributor to 360-5.com.

Visit Dr. Rome at 360-5.com

ASK ELLEN ROME, M.D.

Thank you for your submission. We publish new responses from our experts every week. Check the expert's page to look for your question and to read responses to other questions. Please note that our experts get several questions each week and may not be able to answer every one.

There was a problem submitting your question. Please try again later.

Q:

How can I get my 7-year-old to eat breakfast on school days?

A:

Start the day with a little lesson in breakfast 101: Explain to her that the first meal of the day provides much-needed energy to get her body and bra...

Read More
Q:

What can I teach my son about a healthy diet and athletic performance?

A:

That’s easy: Simply explain to him that if you feed your body great energy, it will produce great energy on the athletic field. A home-grilled l...

Read More
Q:

How can I help my 6-year-old cope with having his dad in Iraq?

A:

Your son is having a normal reaction to the stress of having his dad in a potentially scary place. Validate his feelings and help him express them (&l...

Read More
Q:

How can I get my 14-year-old daughter to be more active?

A:

Teens find Facebook so alluring because it’s peer-driven -- they get to choose their friends, be in constant contact with them and exercise thei...

Read More
Q:

How can I help my daughter deal with bullies?

A:

Doing nothing will not help her build her self-help skills or increase her self-esteem. You have several options that you can pursue. First, help pin ...

Read More
Q:

Does playing violent video games make kids more violent?

A:

There is great data that shows the correlation between violence on the screen (video game, TV show, movie or otherwise) and aggression in play/life. W...

Read More
Q:

Should I give my daughter probiotics while she's on antibiotics?

A:

There is no compelling evidence to show that probiotics are a must in this situation. However, probiotics have been shown to help prevent diarrhea in ...

Read More
Q:

Should I be giving my kids DHA supplements?

A:

DHA is an omega-3 that is essential for a child’s brain, eyes and heart health. My preference for children would be to look to food sources...

Read More
Q:

Can my child be addicted to sugar?

A:

You bet! With regular exposure, the brain can get hard-wired to seek more and more sugar. Similar to other addictions, chemical messengers in the brai...

Read More
Q:

What temperature should I take my baby to an emergency room?

A:

Fever is typically a warning sign that your child is fighting infection or inflammation, usually due to a virus or bacteria. But fever itself, which s...

Read More
Q:

How do I pick a good day care for my child?

A:

Choosing a good day care is a lot like finding a great partner or spouse: Look at all available options, and observe how clean they keep their place a...

Read More
Q:

Preventing kids from becoming overweight

A:

1. Be a good role model.If you're feeding your brood carrot sticks while you're chowing down on chips, good luck getting them on board with healthy ea...

Read More
Q:

What are the best ways to help lower a kid's "bad" cholesterol level?

A:

Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do to reduce your child’s low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level, also known as bad cholesterol.&b...

Read More
Q:

Should my child be tested for high cholesterol? And if so, when?

A:

Children with a strong family history of high cholesterol or early cardiac disease (mother or father diagnosed before age 40) should have their choles...

Read More
Q:

How can I help my child lose weight without making him feel bad about being overweight?

A:

Hinting to your son about his extra weight (or hurling insults) will only backfire, because it chips away at self-esteem. Boys and girls do much bette...

Read More
Q:

My pediatrician said that my child's body mass index was too high, but I think she looks perfectly fine. What should I do?

A:

Body mass index, or BMI, is a screening tool used to identify possible weight problems in children (and adults). It’s not a direct measure of &l...

Read More
Q:

Best Options to Treat Autism?

A:

Differing views of the best treatment for autism exist. Behavioral training and management is labor-intensive but comes with the highest rewards. The ...

Read More
Q:

Best Treatment Options for ADD or ADHD?

A:

The most commonly accepted treatment approach for attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a combined intervention of...

Read More
Q:

Why Are So Many Kids Getting Diagnosed with ADD or ADHD?

A:

A. We don’t know exactly why we are seeing more attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Reasons may include bet...

Read More
Q:

What's the Best Way to Cure Constipation in a Child?

A:

Constipation occurs when the muscles at the end of the large intestine tightens, keeping stool from getting through. That slower movement allows time ...

Read More

News Article
Scientists Map Genome for Dutch Elm Disease Fungus
News Article
Obesity Does Slow People Down, Study Confirms
News Article
Want to Lose Weight? Then Run, Don't Walk: Study
News Article
All Females Can Now Get Plan B Without Prescription
News Article
Mental Illness a Frequent Cell Mate for Those Behind Bars
News Article
'Wake-Up' Cigarette May Raise Risk for Lung, Mouth Cancers

See All News