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Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
05:10

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report

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Weight change in pediatric TennCare recipients referred to a commercial weight loss program

Nia S Mitchell1, Christina A Suh, Nanette Stroebele

  • 1Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Stuttgart, Germany. Nia.Mitchell@ucdenver.edu

Academic Pediatrics
|March 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The TennCare Weight Watchers Partnership Program successfully helped most children and adolescents meet obesity treatment guidelines. This program offered a structured, effective approach for low-income families to manage childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatric Health
  • Obesity Prevention

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant epidemic in the US, disproportionately affecting low-income children.
  • Urgent need for effective interventions to prevent and treat pediatric obesity.
  • Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare) partnered with Weight Watchers in 2006 to offer free program access to pediatric recipients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of the TennCare Weight Watchers Partnership Program.
  • To assess weight changes in pediatric participants against established obesity treatment recommendations.

Main Methods:

  • Nonconcurrent prospective analysis of administrative data from the TennCare Weight Watchers Partnership Program.
  • Examined weight changes in beneficiaries aged 10-17 from January 2006 to January 2009.
  • Compared participant weight change to Expert Committee Recommendations for Childhood and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity.

Main Results:

  • 53% of participants met or exceeded Expert Committee recommendations for childhood obesity.
  • Participants attending over 12 weeks or 10+ meetings showed a 5% decrease in body mass index z-score.

Conclusions:

  • The TennCare Weight Watchers Partnership Program demonstrated success in helping pediatric participants meet obesity guidelines.
  • This public-private partnership model provides a structured, successful intervention opportunity for low-income children facing obesity.
Abstract

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