Pediatric Weight Control Program

Offered in San Jose and Gilroy

San Jose , CA - School Health Clinics of Santa Clara County is seeking children ages eight through twelve to participate in a 6-month Pediatric Weight Control program. Developed by Dr. Thomas Robinson, Director of the Center for Healthy Weight at Packard Children's Hospital, the program is a family-based, behavioral and educational program focused on promoting healthy eating and exercise habits for overweight children and their families. The program will be offered in Spanish beginning this October, and in English beginning January 2007.

Across the nation obesity has become one of the most serious health concerns facing our population. According to the Surgeon General, approximately 300,000 U.S. residents die every year because of preventable weight-related problems. Left alone, obesity may soon cause more death and disease than cigarette smoking.

In Santa Clara County , data shows that a growing number of children ages 5-19 are overweight. Ethnically, 35% of our county's children are Hispanic - and of these Hispanic children, one in four is overweight. Overweight conditions in children are attributed to greater than required portion sizes; over consumption of fast food and soft drinks; the availability of high sugar, calorie, and fat foods on school campuses; limited physical activity; poor physical activity facilities and equipment in schools and communities; and limited access to healthy foods.

At both the Franklin-McKinley Neighborhood Health Clinic in east San Jose and the Gilroy Neighborhood Health Clinic at South Valley Middle School in Gilroy , the program is available to a maximum of 12 families with a child who has a Body Mass Index (BMI) above the 95 th percentile. The program runs for six months and each family must be willing to attend a weekly session for the entire six month period.

During the weight management program, each of the 24 sessions will last approximately an hour and a half.  Sessions are divided into three 30-minute blocks. During the first half-hour, each family member is privately weighed and measured and receives feedback about their progress in changing their eating habits over the past week. In the second half-hour, children and parents divide into separate groups and discuss specific child and parent experiences and problem-solving techniques. In the final half-hour, parents and children meet together in a large group to identify solutions to obstacles in reaching their weekly goals and to set new goals for the following week. Families are encouraged to attend every session to receive maximum benefit.  Sessions focus on identifying and avoiding high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, developing better exercise habits, and maintaining a healthy diet, even in difficult situations (e.g. family gatherings, holidays, parties).

The public spotlight is currently pointed at the increasing number of overweight children in our state and in our county. As school districts implement federally mandated Wellness Policies for schools, and as the governor's office continues to place a high emphasis on nutrition and increased physical activity for children, School Health Clinics of Santa Clara County continues to address the health education needs of children and their families.

If the number of overweight children does not decrease in the coming years, the results will be costly not only for those affected, but also for our county's health care system. The California Center for Public Health Advocacy estimates that obesity in California costs the state $28 billion each year.

For more information on the Pediatric Weight Control program, or to see if your child qualifies to participate, contact Galen Flint at (408) 282-4346, or for Spanish speakers call Irene Garcia at (408) 283-6202.