The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62266

Nancy Wongvipat, MPH¹, Anita Keneipp, MS¹, Bruce Chernof, MD, FACP¹, and Peggy Haines, RN². (1) State Funded Programs/Health Education Department, Health Net of California, Inc., 333 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA 91105, (626) 683-6340, nancy.wongvipat@healthnet.com, (2) Public Programs Quality Improvement, Health Net of California, Inc., 21281 Burbank Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

The prevalence of overweight in children and adolescents has significantly increased over the past two decades, with the most recent national data at 10.4%-15.5% among 2- through 19-year-olds and an alarming 23% among non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American adolescents. Ensuring that overweight individuals receive appropriate preventive care can have substantial health benefits by reducing morbidity associated with diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke, eating disorders and depressive symptoms, and its associated health care costs. Providers may have a significant role in impacting behavior change in overweight patients by identifying patients who are overweight or at risk for obesity and providing brief counseling interventions. Improving the communication between adolescents who are overweight and their parents have also shown to have a positive impact on the health-related behaviors and psychosocial well-being of the adolescent. Supporting the targeted adolescents in their healthy behavioral change efforts through teen-friendly interactive educational materials and promoting community-level efforts by local health departments and community groups are also critical components. Certain medical treatments have shown potential for helping to achieve modest weight reduction in selected patients. Thus, an integrated system of intervention that includes member and provider education, internal and external collaboration and medical management is a core ingredient to achieving successful outcomes. This multi-level intervention initiative is a pilot project to test program effectiveness and the feasibility of implementing such a model in a Medicaid Managed Care setting. Processes of program development, challenges, successes, preliminary evaluation data, transportability and applicability of lessons learned will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to:
• 1.) Describe the challenges and opportunities of utilizing a multi-level approach in implementing a childhood obesity program in a managed care setting.
• 2.) Identify the key steps needed for effective childhood obesity program development.
• 3.) Assess the feasibility of a multi-level intervention approach to implementing a childhood obesity program in their settings.

Keywords: Obesity, Children and Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Health Net of California, Inc.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment

Handout (.ppt format, 379.5 kb)