1. Task Force on Obesity Progress Report
Nancy F. Krebs, MD
Co-Chair
Task Force on Obesity
Presented at the AAP-NCE, Oct 2005

2. [2003]
[2004]

3. Background
# 1 prioritized resolution at Chapter Forum: “Comprehensive approach to obesity in children & adolescents”
“Prevention of Pediatric Overweight & Obesity” Policy Statement
2003 – AAP Strategic Plan: formation of Task Force on Obesity (TFOO)
Numerous activities at Section / Committee & Chapter levels

4. AAP Task Force on Obesity (est 2003)
Co-Chairs
NF Krebs (CON)
RL Washington (COSMF)
Gastroenterology
W Cochran
General Pediatrics
S Hassink
J Calabrese
Adolescent medicine
M Jacobson
Media expertise
D Shifrin
Liaisons:
W Dietz (CDC)
V Hubbard (NIH)

5. AAP Task Force on Obesity (est 2003)
Consultants
Endocrinology
F Kaufman
Primary Care
R Holmberg
Pediatric Surgery
T Inge
Behavior change
K Resnicow
Schools/community
H Taras
Reimbursement
M Schulman
Special Advisor
R Schwartz
AAP Staff:
Pamela Kanda, MPH
Jeanne Lindros, MPH
Cindy Pellegrini

6. AAP Task Force on Obesity (est 2003)
Charge: direct the AAP’s policies on overweight and obesity
Strategic priorities:
Prevention
Treatment
Advocacy
Reimbursement

7. Selected TFOO Objectives…
Obj # 1: Child health professionals will…
Make obesity prevention a part of every routine child health supervision visit;
Be able to identify & treat children and their families who are overweight, including the related co-morbidities

8. Obj #1: Routine prevention, identification & treatment in the office
Develop “Coding Fact Sheet” & “Strategy for Claim/Coverage Denials”
Website posting – June ‘05
AAP News – August ’05
Develop document to identify best assessment, prevention & treatment approaches
Collaborating with AMA, CDC, ADA, NIH, MCHB, et al, to develop consensus statement for revised guidelines – product mid-’06

9. Obj #1: Routine prevention, identification & treatment in the office
Develop plan to hold motivational interviewing & behavior change workshops at NCE & CME courses
Sessions at NCE – 2004, 2005, (2006)
Workshops at SuperCME
PediaLink obesity module
Under construction – Dec 05 available
Develop resource kit (aka “tool kit”)
Under construction – early 2006

10. Selected TFOO Objectives…
Obj # 2: Pediatricians will actively promote policies, programs, & interventions that support healthy active living by collaborating with…
Other health care professionals
Public health sector
Schools
Community-based organizations
Employers

11. Obj #2: To promote policies & interventions by collaborations
AAP representation/input
Agency for Health Research & Quality (Jan 2004)
Federal Trade Commission (July 2005)
AMA disparities workshop (Nov 2003)
American Heart Association ( current)
Shaping America’s Youth
Obesity Summit (June 2004)
Post list of slide presentations on AAP obesity web site (

12. Obj #2: To promote policies & interventions by collaborations
Facilitating local/chapter obesity initiatives
CATCH grantees
Health Tomorrow grantees
Healthy People 2010 grantees
CDC Grant: “Prevention of Obesity in School Health”
Hold educational seminars & provide technical support to AAP chapters re advocacy in schools
Develop a guide for community advocacy & collaboration (post online by Dec ’05)

13. Selected TFOO Objectives…
Obj #3: Pediatricians will be recognized by insurers, employers & legislators as critical providers of health services on overweight/obesity prevention & treatment to all children
Access to care/medical home
AAP reimbursement committee
Education on coding
Legislation/policy development

14. Obj # 3: Recognition of pediatricians as critical providers of services for obesity
[Develop “Coding Fact Sheet” & “Strategy for Claim/Coverage Denials”]
Develop resource materials for chapters to educate payers on evaluation & treatment of obesity by pediatricians;
“Backgrounder” for health insurance carriers
Participate in payer conferences and work groups: ongoing
Meet w/ national carriers to advocate for recognition of & reimbursement for obesity Dx code & reimbursement for preventive & treatment services: ongoing

15. Selected TFOO Objectives…
Obj #4: AAP will collaborate with medical schools, residency & fellowship programs to integrate childhood obesity prevention & treatment into respective curricula.

16. Obj #4: Advocate for training on pediatric obesity prevention & treatment
Identify key leaders & initiate discussions
American Board of Pediatrics
Pediatric Program Directors
Section on Residents
Identify & evaluate existing online curricula
Reviewed UNC/Nutrition in Medicine CD ROM (for medical students)
Position for federally supported training initiatives

17. Additional TFOO Activities
Media & public information
Facilitating local/chapter obesity initiatives
Partnerships w/ private sector
AAP Publications
Update of AAP Policy Statement
Review of relevant clinical reports, pamphlets
Consumer book for parents (draft in review)

18. Summary
Childhood overweight & obesity is a “mega issue” for children’s health & thus for AAP
Priority in current AAP Strategic Plan & for AAP leadership at all levels:
National: Committees/Sections
Local: Districts & Chapters
Individual practicing pediatricians
Pediatric healthcare arena is an essential sphere of influence that must be involved in reversing the current trends