Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative

Addressing youth obesity: How you can play a role

Nearly one in third of Maine children are at-risk for overweight or overweight. Most alarming is the high probability of an overweight child becoming an overweight adult. While national leaders and public opinion polls call on physicians to take an increased role in prevention and early recognition of pediatric overweight, significant gaps exist in the ability of physician practices to respond to this crisis. However, it is important to recognize that providers are one very important part of a diverse strategy to promote healthy weight.

Currently nineteen physician offices, both pediatric and family practice, from around Maine have chosen to participate in the second round of the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative (MYOC). Building upon the successful strategies from MYOC1 (clinical delivery system design changes and community engagement), MYOC2 aims to substantially increase the ability and effectiveness of physician practices in Maine to prevent and manage youth overweight. This goal of MYOC2 will be accomplished by providing practice teams with needed training and tools, and assisting them in strengthening their linkages to community partners.

As part of MYOC2 physicians offices are asked to do the following to address youth overweight in their office:

1. Promote prevention and healthy lifestyles for children and families, regardless of weight through the use of a consistent evidence-based message: 5-2-1-0

a. 5 fruits and vegetables per day
b. 2 hours or less of recreational screen-time per day
c. 1 hour or more of physical activity per day
d. 0 limit sugar sweetened beverages and encourage water and low fat milk

2. Assess and classify weight status of all children:

a. Accurately measure height and weight
b. Calculate Body Mass Index (BMI)
c. Plot BMI on BMI growth chart
d. Classify weight status as:

i. <5%ile = underweight
ii. 5-84%ile = healthy weight
iii. 85-94%ile = at-risk for overweight
iv. 95-98%ile = overweight

3. Conduct an appropriate medical evaluation on children who are overweight or obese

a. Order appropriate laboratory tests

4. Assess behaviors and attitudes

a. Use a behavioral risk assessment that targets diet and physical activity behaviors and attitudes (e.g. 5-2-1-0 waiting room survey)

5. Assess readiness for change around healthy behaviors

a. Use brief focused negotiation and motivational interviewing techniques

Want to learn more?

A third round of the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative is scheduled to begin in the spring – this is an opportunity for pediatric or family practice physician offices that are looking to improve efforts to better prevent, assess, and treat youth obesity. If you are interested in participating in MYOC3 please contact Joan Orr, Project Director at the Maine Center for Public Health at jorr@mcph.org. To access tools used in MYOC2, click here.