Assessing childhood obesity: Utilizing the “electronic health and wellness survey” during well-child visits at a community health center in rural Hawaii

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric health care providers are in the prime position to address childhood obesity on an individual basis. Community health center (CHC) based electronic medical record systems (EMR) provide a means to efficiently collect data from children and families and inform health experts. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this project was to develop and implement an electronic health and wellness survey for use at well-child visits in order to (1) identify the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children who attend a community health center in rural Hawaii and to (2) assess how child's BMI is associated with parent perception on child's health and weight, dietary intakes, screen time, and sleep utilizing an electronic health and wellness survey. METHODS: The project was based at a large rural CHC in Hawaii. A 17-question multiple-choice survey included perception about child's health and weight, breakfast frequency, beverages and rice consumption, screen time, physical activity and sleep. The survey was then transposed into the EMR system. RESULTS: Over 1 year, pediatricians administered the surveys to 2,144 children 2 to 19 years of age and their parents. Using the Center for Disease Control BMI percentile definitions, 1.1% of the children were underweight, 51.4% were healthy weight, 20.9% were overweight and 26.5% were obese. Fifty percent had TV in the bedroom. There were large discrepancies between parent weight perceptions and actual child weight categories. CONCLUSION: This simple electronic wellness survey provides information for children and parents about health and wellness and informs local childhood obesity trends.