There are many tools that help you better assess, prevent, and treat obesity in your office. Some are highlighted below.

Growth Charts
Available for purchase at the AAP Bookstore

Growth Chart Information
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides extensive background information on the growth charts as well as numerous PDF examples of how to use them.

Growth Chart Training
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a set of self-directed, interactive training modules for health care professionals using the pediatric growth charts in clinical and public health settings to assess growth of infants, children, and adolescents.

BMI Calculator
This calculator provides BMI and the corresponding BMI-for-age percentile on a CDC BMI-for-age growth chart. Use this calculator for children and teens, aged 2 through 19 years old.

BMI Table
This table is for children and adolescents 2-20 years of age.

BMI Wheel
Free BMI wheels can often be obtained locally via insurance companies, industry, community intervention sites, and the Department of Health. However there are also many companies that produce and sell these wheels which can be easily found via an internet search.

5, 2, 1, 0 The Pediatric Obesity Clinical Decision Support Chart
Available for purchase from the AAP bookstore. This convenient flip chart provides child health care professionals practical support and guidance to help improve care and outcomes for overweight youth. It is consistent with the December 2007 Expert Panel Recommendations for Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity (AAP Endorsed).

Expert Committee Recommendations on the Assessment, Prevention and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity - 2007 - An Implementation Guide from the Childhood Obesity Action Network
National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ), together with key partners, has created an Implementation Guide to accompany the newly released Obesity Recommendations. These recommendations come from the Expert Committee on the Assessment, Prevention and Management of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity, convened by AMA, CDC, and HRSA. NICHQ's Implementation Guide is now available and will support providers with the tools and resources necessary to put the new recommendations into practice.

Scroll back to the top

The Quality Improvement Innovation Network (QuIIN)
QuIIN is a program at the AAP that involves a network of practicing pediatricians and their staff teams who use quality improvement methods to test tools, interventions, and strategies in order to improve healthcare and outcomes for children and their families.

• QuIINovation Exchange
  QuIINovation Exchange is an opportunity for QuIIN members to regularly communicate with other network members. It is a chance for QuIIN members to obtain feedback on their innovations (ideas, strategies, and tools) and provide feedback on other members' innovations. There is a discussion thread focused on obesity.

The Childhood Obesity Action Network (COAN)
COAN is a Web-based national network, coordinated by the National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality aimed at rapidly sharing knowledge, successful practices, and innovation by:

• Mobilizing and inspiring health care providers to accelerate improvements in care and advocate for change
• Partnering with a broad constituency of health professionals, quality improvement leaders, childhood obesity experts, and child health advocates
• Designing and disseminating policy interventions that will enhance the ability of the healthcare system to address the obesity challenge
• Providing tools and technical assistance to improve clinical care
• Focusing on strategies to reduce health disparities and provide culturally effective care for all families
• Committing to evaluating, learning, and sharing evidence-informed strategies.

Find a Nutritional Professional in Your Community
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) provides a searchable database to find professional nutritional services in your area. The database includes registered dieticians (RD) and dietetic technicians (DTR). According to the ADA a registered dietitian or RD and dietetic technician, registered or DTR can only be used by dietetics practitioners who are currently authorized to use the credential by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association. Individuals with these credentials have completed specific academic and supervised practice requirements, successfully completed a registration examination, and maintained requirements for recertification. Some RDs or DTRs call themselves nutritionists. However, the definition and requirements for the term "nutritionist" vary. Some states have licensure laws that define the scope of practice for someone using the designation nutritionist. The ADA defines the RD and DTR as follows:

• Registered Dietitians (RD): Proven Professional Expertise and Excellence
  Registered Dietitians have completed academic and experience requirements established by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, ADA's credentialing agency, including a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and an accredited pre-professional experience program. RDs must successfully complete a rigorous professional level exam and must maintain ongoing continuing education to maintain their credential. Some RDs hold advanced degrees and additional certifications in specialized areas of practice.
• Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTR): Proven Technical Expertise and Excellence
  Dietetic Technicians, Registered have earned at least a two-year degree from an accredited college or university and have completed a dietetic technical program approved by ADA's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education, including supervised practice experience in community programs, health-care, and foodservice facilities. DTRs must successfully complete a rigorous technical level exam and must maintain ongoing continuing education to maintain their credential.

 

Scroll back to the top

Bright Futures is a national health care promotion and disease prevention initiative that uses a developmentally based approach to address children's health care needs in the context of family and community. Its purpose is to promote and improve infant, child, and adolescent health within the context of family and community.

The following are the obesity related guidelines:

Bright Futures Guidelines Promoting Healthy Weight

Bright Futures Guidelines Promoting Healthy Nutrition

Bright Future Guidelines - Physical Activity

The following are the obesity related Bright Futures handouts:

Bright Futures Promoting Healthy Weight Handout

Bright Futures Promoting Healthy Nutrition Handout

Bright Futures Physical Activity Handout

Scroll back to the top