Welcome to the Complete Children’s Health
Healthy Living Clinic’s information site. As you are most likely aware, the incidence of childhood obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportion. The cause is multifactorial and it seems that today’s children must fight the odds to become healthy. As advocates for children’s health and wellness, we have become increasingly concerned about this alarming trend. For primary care providers, there are many barriers to treating overweight children. A physical examination along with medical counseling on the health consequences of overweight, alone, has not been shown to be effective for most patients.
The Complete Children’s Health
Healthy Living Clinic’s mission is to develop an outpatient program in a primary care setting which will help children and adolescent patients and their families foster healthy lifestyles.
Why are we concerned?
Approximately 25% of today’s children are overweight placing them at risk for multiple medical problems including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, respiratory difficulties, orthopedic problems, etc. This does not even take into account the profound effect of a child’s psychological well being, with these children often becoming the targets of peer discrimination and disapproval leading to low self esteem and sometimes
depression.
Our mission is to develop a program which will include a full and comprehensive medical evaluation to determine your child’s current medical risks as well as the long term risk factors, along with nutrition, physical activity and behavioral modifications which will foster long term changes in activity and dietary habits.
What does the clinic entail?
The multidisciplinary team is made up of a pediatrician, a team of nurses, a behavior consultant, a nutritionist and an exercise specialist. The clinic will consist of twelve weekly evening sessions including dietary counseling, behavioral therapy, and an exercise session. Participants will be responsible for handing in weekly dietary, activity and goal sheets.
You will be sent an orientation packet consisting of a comprehensive family history as well as behavioral questionnaire which should be brought to the initial session.
During the initial evening session, you will be given the weight management handbook which will serve as your guide through the twelve week program.
There is also a required comprehensive medical evaluation which will assess for current and long term risk factors based on the physical exam, patient’s history and extensive family history. If your child needs to be referred to a specialist, we will arrange the referral at this visit. At the completion of the clinic, each participant will need an examination to document what changes have occurred and reassess long term risks.
All participants will need a laboratory evaluation to be completed prior to the medical visit which will include a fasting (12 hour) lipid panel, glucose, and thyroids studies. The laboratory evaluation is also dependent on each patient’s examination, history and the family history. Each participant will need repeat
laboratory evaluation at the end of the twelve weeks.
Why is behavior therapy so important?
Participants will also be required to undergo a diagnostic interview with a psychologist, who will screen for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, adjustment disorder, social phobias, etc. There will also be an assessment of family patterns related to eating practices, physical activity and sedentary behaviors, including parental modeling and family dynamics. Participants with will then be referred for treatment if warranted. The curriculum for the behavioral therapy sessions includes:
- Goal Setting
- Self monitoring
- Stimulus Control
- Positive Reinforcement
- Problem Solving
- Cognitive Restructuring
- Social Support
We realize there will continue to be many barriers for change, even in the most optimal setting. Complete Children’s Health goal is to develop a program to foster long term change for entire families. A key component is providing the participants with the behavioral tools for change.
What is the cost?
We want you to be aware that our goal in starting this clinic is not financial. The cost of the twelve week program is
$200, which is non-refundable and will be collected during the first session. Your insurance company will be charged for the medical evaluations and the psychologist’s session. You will be responsible for any copays.
How do we sign up?
The clinic is open for children ages nine and above. Click
to complete our online patient registration form.
Thank you for your interest. We look forward to working with you and your child to help your family start living a healthier life!
