Addressing Medical Management of Obese and Overweight Pediatric Patients in Palm Beach County Health Department (PBCHD) Clinics

Background. PBCHD has noted an increasing trend of overweight/obesity in children. In efforts to appropriately address this challenging health problem, it will be of particular interest to explore our present approach to management of obese/overweight youth in our clinics. The Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative has developed a model to address overweight youth. It is an adaptation from successful collaborative models now routinely used in Asthma and Diabetes management. Elements include provider, parent/caretaker and practice team surveys; medical chart reviews; and training. It involves an in-depth review of BMI tracking, 5-2-1-0 assessment and messaging, along with diagnostic investigation. Methods. The data will be obtained from the clinics of PBCHD. Provider surveys have been conducted and explore providers’ beliefs regarding perceived efficacy, practice and community resources. Parent/Caretaker surveys have been performed and explore caregivers thoughts on information received from providers regarding obesity/overweight children. A medical chart review checklist (patient nutrition/physical activity measurement, BMI measurement and classification, blood pressure, diagnosis of overweight/obesity, labs, physical advice/goal setting, associated follow-up and referral) is used to conduct a medical record review. Results. Analysis not done. Conclusion. 1.Training is needed to have a positive impact on the management of overweight and obese youth; 2.Perceptual processing by providers and parental/caretakers may negatively impact care of overweight/obese children; 3.Objective findings will facilitate understanding and compliance with necessary changes; 4.There are barriers to achieving optimal medical management. Grants. PBCHD supported