title: The Pediatric Obesity Initiative: development, implementation, and evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pediatric obesity rates have nearly tripled over the past three decades contributing to increased morbidity and mortality in the United States and around the world. Pediatric obesity is most prevalent in developed countries and affects all races, ethnicities, cultures, and age groups. To combat this epidemic locally, a team of dedicated providers developed a comprehensive evidenced-based toolkit and training program for clinical practices providing primary care services to children in a North Carolina county.
  
  
  METHODS
  The toolkit and training program were developed using the most current treatment guidelines for pediatric obesity and included resources developed by Healthy Carolinians. One unique feature of the training was a demonstration of motivational interviewing with additional resources included in the toolkit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Staff and providers in three pediatric practices and the local Health Department received the training. In a 3 months follow-up survey after the training, the providers indicated that the toolkit and training program were useful but that they still did not consistently use the guidelines or tools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ensuring the use of available guidelines and resources by providers remains a challenge. Further study is needed on how to improve implementation of guidelines in primary care settings.
authors.affiliation: Knightdale Family Medicine, Knightdale, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Denise A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sample
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Barksdale
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jessup
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D009657:North Carolina; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010372:Pediatrics; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation
keywords: Obesity; children; management; pediatric; primary care; treatment; weight management