Growing healthy lives: Enhancing pediatric healthy eating and physical activity counseling among healthcare providers

Rates of childhood overweight have escalated across our nation, and may profoundly impact the prevalence of chronic diseases and healthcare costs among future generations. Healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to offer effective healthy lifestyles counseling to overweight children and their families. However, multiple factors, including inadequate patient-provider time and lack of educational resources, often prohibit this interaction. WellSpan Health has addressed this issue by implementing the Growing Healthy Lives program, one component of its comprehensive childhood overweight strategy. A response-driven algorithm and anticipatory guidance sheet assist providers with classifying the BMI percentile of a child, encouraging healthy eating and physical activity counseling, and referring children to appropriate weight management services. Additional family resources, including a BMI information sheet, interactive workbook, and tip cards may be used: a) by providers and community organizations to engage families in an ongoing dialogue about healthy eating and physical activity behaviors, or; b) on a self-directed basis by families. Resources were evaluated during a pilot implementation project among fifty providers, who reached 1712 pediatric patients and distributed 414 educational materials. Survey results, variations in child BMI percentiles, anomalies in material distribution rates, and other process data were collected and used to refine all print materials and develop a self-learning continuing education resource for clinicians. Over 265 physicians and clinical staff, primarily from family medicine and pediatric practices, have been trained in the program since July 2007, and further trainings are scheduled. Consumer and healthcare provider evaluation is ongoing and results to-date will be discussed.