Pediatric Obesity Treatment in a Safety Net Clinic: Piloting the Step by Step Program

Obesity treatment interventions have been studied in pediatric primary care offices and are often conducted in low-income and minority populations, and pediatric obesity clinics. Key components of programs that have been shown to be effective include parent engagement providing physical activity, nutrition and behavior education and at least 26 hours of total contact time. However, there is little guidance in the literature describing translation of successful programs into sustainable, real-world practice for uninsured children and families. To the investigator's knowledge no studies in the United States have evaluated the feasibility of implementing a fitness and nutrition program in safety net clinics where uninsured parents and their children receive health care. The objectives of this project were to design an evidence-based, family-centered fitness and nutrition program and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of implementing this program in a Volunteer in Medicine Clinic, discussing successes, challenges and lessons learned.