For Clinicians

Numerous programs were assessed as part of the systematic review used to inform this guideline. The interventions listed below are those for which resources are currently publicly available. Each intervention combines behavioral change, diet and physical activity to treat overweight and obesity.

Programs may be delivered by teams of professionals with specific expertise in each domain, such as physicians monitoring overall health, psychologists focused on behavior change and barriers to change, dieticians helping children and families make healthful food and beverage choices, and exercise specialists helping children and families incorporate fun, engaging physical activity into their daily lives.

The chart below shows these programs grouped by the ages for which they are appropriate. A brief description of each program follows.

Developed by the University of Michigan School of Public Health, BMi² (Brief Motivational Interviewing to reduce Body Mass Index) combines diet, activity, and behavioral changes as a pediatric obesity reduction intervention. This treatment is delivered by primary care providers for children from 2 to 10 years old who are between the 85th and 97th percentile in BMI. The intervention spans two years and includes four motivational interviewing sessions with a pediatrician and six visits with a registered dietitian. Primary care providers intending to utilize this intervention must complete two days of training in motivational interviewing and behavior therapy.

Using a combination of diet, activity, and behavioral changes, High Five for Kids is designed for children between the ages of 2 to 6 years old with a BMI in the 85th percentile or higher. The intervention, developed by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, has two phases, starting with one year of intensive implementation followed by one year of maintenance. The implementation phase includes four in-person motivational interviews with a clinician (usually a pediatric nurse practitioner) and three phone calls in the first year.

Smart Moves^TM is a 12-week, non-diet, family-centered approach to help children and adolescents with overweight and obesity between the ages of 8 to 16 years old. The intervention, developed by the Bright Bodies Weight Management Program for Children at Yale School of Medicine, includes an instructional manual and workbook (available in English and Spanish) for behavior modification, exercise, and nutrition education.

Developed by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Smart Steps is an intervention for children and adolescents ages 8-12 with a BMI between the 50th and 95th percentile who consume at least 6 oz. of sweetened beverages daily. Clinicians can choose between two tracks: decreasing sweetened beverages, or a comprehensive dietary and physical activity intervention. Both tracks include twelve 15- to 25-minute encounters with the child, clinician, and a parent/guardian over one year.

The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute's STAR (Study of Technology to Accelerate Research) intervention combines diet, activity, and behavioral health changes as a way to manage pediatric obesity for children from 6 to 13 years old whose BMI is greater than or equal to the 95th percentile. This intervention begins with a wellness visit to child’s pediatrician where the program materials are discussed and provided. Then a health coach is brought on board to guide the child and parent/guardian through the process with a phone call every three months and semi-weekly text messages that include progress questions. The intervention concludes with another wellness visit to the pediatrician.

The resources below are general handouts for behavioral change, diet, and physical activity, including some of the resources from the interventions listed above. These resources supplement the expertise of the intervention team. Not all resources are applicable to every family.