Resources
AMA guidelines on pediatric overweight and obesity
In June 2007, the recommendations from the Expert Committee on the Assessment, Prevention and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity, which was convened by the AMA, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), were released. Visit the AMA Web site or view the AMA recommendations (PDF 70KB) for more information on the topic.
National Initiative for Children’s Health Care Quality (NICHQ): Children's Obesity Action Network
The Children’s Obesity Action Network (COAN) is a new NICHQ Web-based national network aimed at rapidly sharing knowledge, successful practices and innovation. This helps ensure that providers have access to the best available evidence and promising practices on prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
NICHQ, together with key partners, has created an Implementation Guide to accompany the newly released Overweight and Obesity Recommendations. NICHQ’s Implementation Guide (PDF 220KB) supports providers with the tools and resources necessary to put the new recommendations into practice. Dr. Lenna Liu, COAT’s lead physician, is a co-author of this guide.
- Gain access to the Implementation Guide’s tools, resources and much more, join the Childhood Obesity Action Network.
- Learn more (PDF 220KB) about the Childhood Obesity Action Network and other NICHQ programs.
Small Steps to Health Pediatric Obesity Toolkit
In addition to the tools and resources available through NICHQ’s Childhood Obesity Action Network, you may find COAT’s Small Steps to Health Pediatric Obesity Toolkit helpful in implementing the AMA recommendations.
This toolkit was included in the material distributed during our quality improvement learning collaboratives with primary care practices (Small Steps to Health and CHIC). The toolkits have been successfully used during clinic visits by several local pediatric practices and can be easily adapted to your own pediatric population. Clinics can get more support on the use of these tools by joining a learning collaborative.
- Small Steps to Health Posters: Photo Versions (JPG 219KB)
- Spanish (JPG 65KB)
- Somali (JPG 66KB)
- Vietnamese (JPG 69KB)
- Small Steps to Health Posters: Icon Versions (PDF 406KB)
- Spanish (JPG 60KB)
- Somali (JPG 60KB)
- Vietnamese (JPG 66KB)
- Surveys on Health Messages (DOC 60KB)
- Spanish (DOC 61KB)
- Somali (DOC 63KB)
- Vietnamese (DOC 61KB)
- Clinic Visit Encounter Form (PDF 61KB)
- Physical Activity Referral Form (DOC 69KB)
Provider Packet on Pediatric Obesity
Together with the local chapter of the American Heart Association, COAT has developed provider packets to assist health-care providers in helping patients manage obesity and discussing healthy lifestyle concerns with patients and their families.
The packets include current information about childhood obesity, useful tools that help promote the message of a healthy lifestyle, and copies of age-specific family educational materials. To order, call (866) 987-2500, option 1, or print and fax a copy of the Health Care Provider Materials Request form (PDF 15KB) from the Medical Staff Web site.
Or you can view some of the key materials in the packet:
- AMA Expert Committee Recommendations for the Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity
- AHA Overweight in Children and Adolescents
- Weight Management Educational Materials Handout (PDF 167KB) — A list of top educational materials chosen by families and providers. Contact information on how to obtain these materials is included.
- Changes for a Healthy Lifestyle: Helpful Ideas from Parents — Provider version (PDF 261KB) – Tips from parents on how to approach healthy lifestyle changes and specific ideas on modeling active living and preparing easy nutritious snacks and meals. Spanish version (DOC 1677KB).
American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is committed to children’s health. It recognizes childhood overweight and obesity as a serious health concern and continues to work for improvements in obesity prevention and treatment.
Other helpful resources
- Download a program for calculating BMIs onto a handheld device.
- QuickLinks: Free e-mail toolkit for health-care professionals
- Local/statewide coalition and initiatives