Education and Resources for Healthcare Providers

In alignment with the American Medical Association staged approach to care for children who are obese or overweight with co-conditions, Seattle Children’s offers several clinical services that have interdisciplinary teams with experience in childhood obesity.

Obesity Program members are also working to support primary care providers in their well-child prevention approaches and in their follow-up visits for those children who are overweight with risk factors.

Resources

Clinical services

• Child Wellness Clinics at Seattle Children's  
• Fit 4 You program at Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (PDF)
• ACT! Actively Changing Together at Local YMCAs
  • ACT! Referral Form (PDF)
  • ACT! Tips to Help You Start the Conversation with Families About Overweight (PDF)
• Excel-Based Clinical Tools to Assist with Growth Charts  
• Nutrition and Fitness for Life Classes at Virginia Mason  
• Resources for Sharing with Patients and Families  

From other organizations and agencies

• AAP Expert Committee Recommendations Regarding the Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity
• American Academy of Pediatrics  
• AMA Guidelines  
• Healthy Care for Healthy Kids Obesity Toolkit from the National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ)

Tools for Providers

• Obesity Education and Resources for Families  
• Clinic Visit Encounter Form (PDF)
• Ten Guidelines to Help Manage Your Weight (PDF)

Provider Education

Obesity prevention and management is a relatively new and growing skill for providers who care for children and adolescents. The most recent medical recommendations were disseminated in 2007. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force endorsed obesity screening and treatment for the first time in 2010. Weight can be a very challenging and sensitive topic to discuss with families and children.

Children’s has presented provider trainings on obesity prevention, management and counseling since 2004 to empower and support community providers. They include Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs and events such as Grand Rounds.

We also train providers on becoming advocates in their communities to support needed changes in schools, community organizations and local policy.