Healthy Habits Questionnaire Feasibility and Utility for High-Risk Children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides guidance for pediatric primary care providers to promote healthy weight during childhood. Screening questions on diet and activity habits can help provider assessment and assist counseling for targeted behavior change. We implemented the parent completed, 10-item in our primary care practice serving low-income minority children with high rates of overweight and obesity.

Identification of Overweight and Obesity in Low-Income Minority Children by Pediatric Providers and Child Characteristics Associated With Underrecognition.

Introduction: Childhood overweight and obesity remains prevalent. We sought to identify characteristics associated with correct coding of obese and overweight children ages 2-9 years by pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) in an urban, minority clinic.

Method: Samples included electronic health records pre- (n = 262) and post- (n = 244) provider training to implement an intervention aiming to improve consistency in obesity prevention and management guidelines from 15 providers.

Modifying Provider Practice To Improve Assessment of Unhealthy Weight and Lifestyle in Young Children: Translating Evidence in a Quality Improvement Initiative for At-Risk Children.

Background: We designed a quality improvement (QI) project to address the high prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity (OW/OB) in our patient population and the inconsistencies among primary care providers in recognizing and addressing OW/OB.

Methods: We used mixed methods data collection approach to evaluate a QI project, the Childhood Healthy Behaviors Intervention (CHBI), to improve provider obesity prevention practice in two low-income, predominantly African American pediatric primary care clinics. Electronic record data were extracted from all 2-9 year well visits pre- and postintervention for frequency of appropriate diagnostic coding of OW/OB.

Food insecurity and food deserts.

Food insecurity has been steadily increasing in the United States with prevalence at nearly 15% of all households. Nurse practitioners can assess for food insecurity and provide local resources for families living in neighborhoods without easy access to healthy foods, otherwise known as food deserts.