Patient-Clinic-Community Integration to Prevent Obesity Among Rural Preschool Children

Patient-Clinic-Community Integration to Prevent Obesity Among Rural Preschool Children

The goal of this research study is to compare two enhancements to well-child visits at Geisinger designed to promote family-centered counseling for the prevention of obesity in a high-risk population of rural, lower income, preschool-aged children. Compared to the standard well-child visit, enhancements will offer advantages to obesity prevention, parent involvement in counseling, lifestyle behaviors, and food resource management.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age (20-months to 59-months, 29-days old)
• BMI-for-age and -sex >50th percentile based on WHO growth standards
• Parent commitment to participate in 18-month study
• Plans to attend scheduled WCV and recommended follow-up WCV in 12 months
• No plans to move or change health systems in 2 years
• Parent age > 18 years
• Parent is English-speaking
• Household is considered lower-income (i.e., eligible for or receiving Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children [WIC], Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], Temporary Assistance for Needy Families [TANF], Medicaid, or Children's Health Insurance Program [CHIP]) or screens positive for food insecurity.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Another child in family is participating
• Pre-existing medical exclusions (cancer, type 1 diabetes, major developmental delays such as autism)
• Parents with self-reported major depression will be excluded.