Childhood Obesity Healthcare
Health systems are typically made up of a variety of healthcare providers, insurance plans, delivery systems, and information technologies. These groups can all play a role in children’s healthy growth and the prevention and management of obesity. Learn more about CDC’s approach to reduce childhood obesity in healthcare settings pdf icon[PDF-2.0MB].
A collective approach to our nation’s high levels of childhood obesity will require prevention and care management options delivered in community venues, clinics, and hospital-based settings.
Health systems can address childhood obesity through the implementation of best practice guidelines complemented by community- based resources, programs and policies that foster behavioral management strategies that aid children’s diet, physical activity, sleep, stress and wellbeing.
Learn more about the COMMIT project which seeks to enhance implementation of an evidence based childhood weight management program in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).
The CDC has developed the Clinical and Community Data Initiative (CODI) to demonstrate how health systems can also collaborate with multiple sectors and systems to develop platforms that harness data and help improve research and surveillance opportunities while preserving data privacy.
A Toolkit for Evaluating Childhood Healthy Weight Programsexternal icon is for researchers and practitioners. The toolkit offers an overview of program evaluation and provides guidance on evaluation readiness, process measures, outcome measures, contextual factors, program sustainability, and remote evaluation of childhood healthy weight programs. The toolkit was developed by the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR).
Childhood Obesity Clinical Guidelines
In 2017, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force provided a Grade B recommendation that providers screen children aged 6 years or older for obesity, and provide or refer children with obesity to intensive lifestyle modification programs. Learn moreexternal icon.
In 2007 the American Academy of Pediatrics released the Expert Committee Recommendations that suggest screening all children for obesity (>=2 years) and providing tiers of care regarding the treatment and prevention of obesity. Learn moreexternal icon.
Obesity Care Models and Frameworks
The Integrator Framework and the Obesity Chronic Care Model provide approaches to addressing childhood obesity that connects healthcare to other systems.
Health Provider and Practitioner Resources on Community-Clinical Collaborations
The links below provide information on developing community-clinical collaborations to address obesity.
- Community-Clinical Guide for public health practitioners pdf icon[PDF- 1.7MB]
- Community health improvement hubexternal icon
- Inclusion of food access and food and nutrition security into community health needs assessments pdf icon[PDF-3.53MB]external icon
The links below provide information on developing community-clinical collaborations to address obesity.
CDC Clinical Growth Charts
Health Information Technology for Obesity and related behaviors
- Body mass index (BMI) data from measured height and weight data captured in Electronic Health Records (EHR) can benefit patient care such as screening, group practice quality improvement efforts, and can be a valuable resource for health system and public health to support population health activities.
- Standards: HL7 Version 3 Detailed Clinical Models, Release 1 – Body Weight and Body Heightexternal icon and Healthy Weightexternal icon
