Championing Best Health: A Primary Care Series on Pediatric Obesity

Pediatrics & Youth Health, Primary Care / Family Medicine

Pediatric obesity is a growing concern in Alberta, with approximately 22% of children and youth living with overweight or obesity. Early intervention and evidence-based care are essential to preventing long-term health complications. Addressing pediatric obesity presents unique challenges, as clinicians must engage not only the child or adolescent, but also their family and broader support system. A needs assessment conducted by the PLP identified that many primary care providers feel uncomfortable initiating conversations about pediatric obesity, highlighting an important gap in confidence and practical guidance. In response to this need, PLP collaborated with pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Stasia Hadjiyannakis and psychologist Dr. Laurie Clark - both from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario's Centre for Healthy Active Living & Metabolic Disorders - to develop a four-part webinar series for PCPs. Aligned with the Canadian Pediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines, the series provided practical strategies for discussing weight management with families, assessing pediatric obesity using the Edmonton Obesity Staging System for Pediatrics, advising on treatment and referral options, and navigating common challenges in care. To support ongoing spread and scale, recordings and a curated Pearls for Practice resource bundle were shared with participants and made available on the PLP website to support asynchronous learning.