Clinical perspectives on pediatric weight-management programs: A nationwide look at models of care.
Pediatric obesity management shows considerable variability among clinics, highlighting the need for standardized care models to improve treatment consistency.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the dulaglutide corpusSummary and findings
This study assessed the current practices in pediatric weight management programs through a cross-sectional survey of 38 providers. It highlighted the variability in clinic structures and staffing, as well as the mismatch between ideal and actual follow-up times. No specific doses or treatments were evaluated.
Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>Obesity is a common, complex, and often persistent chronic disease associated with serious health and social consequences. In the United States, recent data indicates that almost 20% of children and adolescents have obesity. Management of pediatric obesity involves multidisciplinary teams, including pediatricians, pediatric specialists, dietitians, behavioral health specialists, and exercise professionals, who deliver intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment. Prior survey data from Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES) members indicate variability in practice patterns. There is an urgent need to assess current practices across groups and use these data to establish a standard of care across institutions.<h4>Methods</h4>This is a cross-sectional survey of 38 providers who treat pediatric obesity. We report descriptive statistics (mean/median/IQR) only.<h4>Results</h4>Of 168 potential respondents, 38 completed the survey. 61% of the clinics are run within the Pediatric Endocrine division. All clinics offer pharmacotherapy, while only some offer bariatric surgery treatment. There is a wide divergence in the structure, staffing, visit frequency, intake process, and operational workflow between programs. All programs are staffed with a physician or APP, 97% with dieticians, 60% with psychologists or behavioral health therapists, and 39% with bariatric surgeons. Ideal and actual follow up times were mismatched, with programs wanting to see patients for follow up more often than they were able to.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The survey provides a detailed snapshot of current practices within pediatric weight management programs, highlighting the strengths and the substantial variability that characterize the field. While many clinics share core elements, there remains a divergence in others. These differences reflect the diverse environments in which programs operate and underscore the benefit of standardized models for delivering pediatric obesity care. This survey is an important foundation, but broader national efforts are essential to guide standardization, inform policy, and support the development of high-quality, accessible pediatric obesity care.
Background
This paper addresses the management of pediatric obesity, a chronic condition affecting nearly 20% of children and adolescents in the U.S. Existing literature indicates variability in treatment practices among providers, which can impact care quality. Understanding current practices is essential for establishing standardized care models.
Methods
The study employed a cross-sectional survey design targeting 168 potential respondents, of which 38 completed the survey. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, focusing on clinic structure, staffing, and operational workflows.
Results
Of the 168 potential respondents, 38 completed the survey. The survey revealed that 61% of clinics are within the Pediatric Endocrine division, and all clinics provide pharmacotherapy. There is a notable divergence in clinic structures and staffing, with 97% employing dieticians and 39% having bariatric surgeons.
Interpretation
The findings indicate significant variability in pediatric obesity management practices, which aligns with previous reports of inconsistent treatment approaches. While the data is statistically descriptive, the clinical significance of these findings is limited due to the small sample size and lack of detailed outcome measures. The variability suggests a need for standardized care models to improve treatment consistency.
Key findings
- 61% of clinics are run within the Pediatric Endocrine division.
- All clinics offer pharmacotherapy, while only some offer bariatric surgery treatment.
- 97% of programs are staffed with dieticians.
- 60% of programs include psychologists or behavioral health therapists.
- 39% of programs have bariatric surgeons.
Limitations
- small n=38 providers
- self-reported data may introduce bias
- cross-sectional design limits causality
- no specific treatment outcomes reported