Healthcare

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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.

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.

Childhood Obesity Guidelines

In 2010 and 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 more.

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 more.

Obesity Care Models and Frameworks

• Integrator Framework
• Obesity Chronic Care model

Health Provider and Practitioner Resources on Clinical-Community Collaborations

• Community-Clinical Guide for public health practitioners [PDF- 1.7MB]
• Community health improvement hub
• Community health online resource center (CHORC). Learn more about Community Health Workers, anchor institutions, health information technology, partnering, quality of care improvements, health equity
• Inclusion of food access and food insecurity into community health needs assessments

CDC Clinical Growth Charts

• CDC provides downloadable clinical growth charts for children.

Communicating with Families

• The American Academy of Pediatrics has tools that can enhance interactions with parents and to effectively engage families in healthy active living

Community Weight Management Programs for Children

• Healthy Weight Management Programs for Children

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 Height and Healthy Weight

Parent Resources

• Information on nutrition, sleep, physical activity and other factors for healthy weight.
• Federal nutrition site for benefiting healthy weight in children.

Clinical-Community Childhood Obesity Research Demonstrations

• CORD 1.0
• CORD 2.0

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