When your child was younger, you most likely remember making frequent visits to the doctor’s office for checkups. Now that they’re in high school, annual wellness visits are still important—even if they get a sports physical each season.
Though you may not notice your teen changing day to day like you did when they were little, a lot is happening behind the scenes. Their body is still growing, and the brain continues to develop through the early adult years. Their social and emotional world is shifting, too—school, sports, screens and stress can add up, affecting sleep, focus and mood.
That’s why the annual wellness visit offers a more complete check-in than a sports physical’s “cleared to play” checklist. Here are the most common questions (and quick answers) about annual wellness visits for teens:
Q: “We just did a sports physical—why do we need a wellness visit?”
A: A sports physical evaluates a child’s musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems to confirm basic readiness to participate in sports.
Wellness visits (performed by a pediatrician or family medicine provider) are much more in-depth. These exams provide a comprehensive view of your child's health over time, so trends and potential issues can be addressed as they arise—and before they become more serious.
You can save yourself an appointment by bringing a sports physical form to your wellness visit for your provider to sign.
Q: “But my teen is healthy. Is a wellness visit really necessary?”
A: Annual wellness visits help teens stay healthy.
Not only do these visits monitor their development and health over time, but they also give teens practical guidance on new issues they face as they mature, like social and academic stress, substance use and reproductive health.
In addition, preventive visits help high schoolers build a relationship with their provider and gradually take more ownership of their health, setting the stage for lifelong wellness.
Q: “What’s the risk if my teen skips their wellness visit?”
A: Many teen health concerns start quietly without symptoms. If you skip the annual wellness visit, you may miss early detection and guidance on issues like:
- BMI (body mass index) trajectory
- Blood pressure
- Vision and hearing
- Sleep quality
- Cholesterol
- Nutrition
- Substance use
- Mental health
- Reproductive development
Q: “We’re busy—and my teen doesn’t want to go to a wellness visit. What now?”
A: Make it easy and give them some control.
Many providers offer evening or weekend appointments, so they don’t need to worry about missing school or practice. Tell them there will be time for them to ask their doctor questions privately—about sleep, stress, skin, or anything else. Let your teen choose if they want to see a pediatrician or a family medicine provider.
By teaching your teen the importance of preventive care now, you’re helping them build lifelong health habits so they can thrive during this season and in the future.
Need help finding care for your child or teen?
Banner|Aetna is proud to connect families to Banner Children’s, a trusted leader in Arizona pediatrics. From routine checkups and preventive care to urgent needs and specialty services, Banner Children’s offers the expertise and support families count on—at every stage of growing up. To find a pediatric, adolescent or family provider near you, visit Banner Health.
Developed with clinical input from Ruben Omar Espinoza, MD, a board-certified pediatrician affiliated with Banner Health.
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