Childhood obesity: what's health care policy got to do with it?
The health care industry must acknowledge its critical role in addressing childhood obesity. All components of the industry--payers, plans, and providers--must act based on the best available evidence. This evidence now points to promoting breastfeeding and increased physical activity, decreased television time, and decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages; the use of more-effective counseling techniques; and linking practice and community-based strategies around a common message. Policies in support of these changes include reimbursement for counseling and community efforts; training; incentives; and support for traditional and pragmatic research, the latter including sharing outcomes using common metrics across programs.
Homer
Charles
C
National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. chomer@nichq.org
Simpson
Lisa A
LA
D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States