What is the Healthy Choices Clinic?

The Healthy Choices Clinic is planned to help overweight children and their families develop healthy habits and reduce the risk of medical problems. The Healthy Choices Clinic is staffed by pediatricians, a family nurse practitioner, a pediatric social worker and a pediatric resident (doctor in training). Because the Healthy Choices Clinic is a 4 hour session that includes both education and individual family consultation, it is called a “group” appointment rather than a “class.”

What happens during the 4 hour group appointment?

The Healthy Choices group appointment begins with discussion of medical problems that can result from being overweight and review of healthy habits of eating and exercise. Changing habits and routines can be difficult. The group appointment includes discussion of readiness for change. The group discussions are followed with individualized family goal setting. Each family unit (child, parents, caregivers, etc.) meets separately with the Healthy Choices Clinic Team to review the family’s health history and establish a plan for health that considers family risks for certain medical conditions, family routines and circumstances.

Does my child need to have the laboratory work done before the Healthy Choices Clinic?

Please do not postpone this important part of assessing your child’s health. Please have all laboratory (blood work) completed at least 3 days before the Healthy Choices Clinic appointment. Additional laboratory tests may be ordered for your child after reviewing your child’s results.

Who should attend?

In the Healthy Choices Clinic all involved adults are part of the “family.” The group appointment is planned for the overweight child, child at risk for being overweight and their adult family members. Extended family members and caregivers are invited to attend with the child and parents. In situations where someone outside the immediate family has significant child care and/or meal planning/food preparation responsibilities, families should consider inviting this person to attend the Healthy Choices Clinic with the family.

Child care is NOT provided. Entertainment is NOT provided for children too young to participate in the group appointment. Please do not bring young children along.

What is the cost?

The cost is the same as your co-pay for your child for a pediatric appointment. There is only one co-pay regardless of the number of “family” members attending the appointment with your child.

May we attend more than one time?

The Healthy Choices Clinic is a one-time session. If you feel repeating the Healthy Choices Clinic would be helpful or important family members were not able to attend the group appointment with your child, please talk with your child’s pediatrician about another referral.

What happens after the Healthy Choices Clinic ?

The healthy choices plan for your child will be given to your child’s pediatrician for ongoing care. Your child will have frequent and regular appointments to monitor your child’s progress.

Where is the Healthy Choices Clinic and What if I have more questions?

The Healthy Choices Clinic appointment is in the Mosswood Building on the 11th floor at 3505 Broadway, Oakland. Please call Pediatrics 752-1487 for questions or to request a referral.