New Ways to Overcome Old Barriers: Engaging Pediatricians and Primary Care Physicians in Obesity Prevention and Intervention

摘要

Melinda S. Sothern: This is Melinda Sothern welcoming our childhood obesity experts, David Ludwig, Sonia Caprio, Stewart Gordon and Steve Daniels. Let's begin our discussion with barriers to obesity prevention and management in the primary care office.One barrier that seems to be the most challenging is that outside of the primary care office, our environment is very resistant to the type of changes that would promote healthy weight in children. Next, there is a lack of time in the office to initiate much change; a lack of financial resources to provide educational and behavioral counseling materials; and a lack of office staff and nurses to organize weight management counseling efforts. There continues to be inadequate insurance and governmental reimbursement for childhood obesity management in particular, and for any type of preventive measures.