Childhood Obesity as a Pediatric Vital Sign: A Population Health Initiative.

Abstract

The high prevalence of obesity; the disparities in the risk of obesity based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status; and the serious short- and long-term effects of childhood obesity led to the selection of obesity as a Pediatric Vital Signs (PVS) indicator. This report describes the approach (multisector collaborations, guidance form the enhanced chronic model), interventions (multisector interventions to involve clinicians, community organizations, data systems, policy advocates, children and families), and measures (proportion of children with overweight and obesity seen in a health system, change in provider knowledge and behavior, uptake of educational/resource programs, engagement of coalitions) adopted for the PVS population health child obesity initiative, challenges with implementation (data measures, finances, reach), and potential solutions (building multisector collaborations, inclusion of the lived experience) for sustainability.