Primary Care Group Visits for Childhood Obesity: Clinical Program Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Public Health
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
• Interventions often involve lifestyle changes focusing on nutrition and physical activity.
• Group-based programs offer social support and shared learning experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of group visits for children with elevated body mass index (BMI).
• To assess family satisfaction and changes in BMI percentile following participation.
• To explore the sustainability of BMI reduction over time.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 29 group visits for children with elevated BMI and their families.
• Activities included social support, mind-body techniques, exercise, and nutrition education.
• Measured attendance, family satisfaction, and BMI percentile changes.

Main Results:

• 96 patients attended, with high family satisfaction (9.8/10) and recommendation rates.
• Few patients (11.9%) achieved a significant BMI percentile reduction; only 7.1% maintained it at 2 years.
• High attendance and satisfaction were observed, but clinical impact on BMI was minimal.

Conclusions:

• Group visits are well-received by families of children with elevated BMI.
• Current group visit format shows limited efficacy in significantly reducing BMI percentile.
• Future interventions should focus on enhancing strategies to achieve and sustain BMI reduction.