The obese adolescent.

Childhood obesity is one of the formidable challenges that healthcare providers face. Early recognition and implementation of preventive strategies is crucial in combating this problem. Inculcation of a healthy lifestyle in our youth by encouraging physical activity, decreasing sedentary pastimes, and making healthy food choices is critical right from the start, before poor habits become ingrained.

Effective interviewing and counseling of the adolescent patient.

A vast number of successful recommendations are available to physicians who want to learn how to strengthen their interactions with adolescent patients. Understanding that the physician-patient relationship is dynamic is the first step toward building a strong repertoire within this patient sample. Therefore, physicians may assume that adolescent perceptions of the physician-patient relationship and the services provided will change as they change developmentally or as the situation is modified.

Validation of the Perkins Adolescent Risk Screen (PARS).

Purpose: To examine the initial psychometric properties for the PARS, a brief interview used to screen for 16 items of adolescent risk and protective factors.

Methods: Participants included 193 adolescents, attending public middle and high schools or a university-based Adolescent Clinic. Participants completed a PARS interview, as well as a battery of questionnaires.