Promoting health in teens and kids

Early results of a program aimed at combating childhood obesity show promise and the program is being well received by the children and their families.

Those are among the conclusions of research from Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, where PHIT Kids offers a comprehensive clinical and educational program for overweight children and their families.

“This initial research shows that our program may work as one piece of the puzzle to combat this epidemic,” says Sarah Hampl, MD, the chief author of the study.

She will present her findings at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Toronto. The meeting is the largest and most prestigious gathering of pediatric researchers.

Behavioral and lifestyle programs of various kinds have been developed many places, but there has been little done to help children in ethnic minorities. The Children's Mercy program – dubbed Promoting Health in Teens and Kids (PHIT Kids) was designed with those families (underserved, ethnically diverse) in mind. The program was also designed to be delivered in a primary care (hospital clinic) setting.

As part of the program, children are seen by a pediatric medical provider, a social worker, dietitian and physical therapist. Tweens (ages 9-12), teens (ages 13-18) and their parents then enter group behavioral education weekly for 24 weeks and for periodic clinic visits.

Initial results show that after 24 weeks in the program, youths' and parents' weights and Body Mass Index declined. Insulin levels (a measure of risk for diabetes, which is a common side effect of obesity) decreased. Children reported decreased sugared drink intake.

“It is also encouraging that the vast majority of participants reported a high or very high degree of satisfaction with the program,” Dr. Hampl says. “We know that for any sort of lifestyle change to be successful, families must want it and like it. This seems to work.”

The Pediatric Academic Societies is made up of the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, the Ambulatory Pediatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. More than 2,000 presentations will be made during the five day conference in Toronto, which attracts about 6,000 pediatricians from across North America.

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