EMMC recognized for efforts to reduce obesity in children
Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor is being recognized by Let’s Go!, an obesity prevention initiative, for its efforts to reduce obesity in children.
Three EMMC practices achieved “sites of distinction” status from Let’s Go!, which works primarily in Maine and the Mount Washington Valley region of New Hampshire but has partnerships all over the United States.
EMMC Center for Family Medicine, EMMC Pediatric Medicine, and the Way to Optimal Weight Clinic (WOW) received the distinction for:
Regularly engaging in respectful conversations with patients about healthy behaviors by using the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Habits Questionnaire at well-child visits. The 5-2-1-0 program recommends five evidenced-based daily healthy habits that will help people lose weight: Eating five or more fruits and vegetables; limiting recreational screen time to two hours or less per day; enjoying one hour or more of physical activity; and avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages altogether. drinks.
Helping to connect the 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! message throughout the community by sharing 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! posters in the waiting room and all exam rooms where pediatric patients are seen.
Accurately weighing and measuring patients and determining Body Mass Index, BMI percentile, and weight classification for all patients ages 2 years and older at well-child visits.
An October 2017 data brief by the Center for Disease Control titled “Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2015-2016,” suggests that nationwide obesity rates may be leveling, particularly among younger age groups. In Maine, childhood obesity accounts for 11.6% of the adolescent population.
“I am excited to highlight our practices’ efforts to help children foster healthy habits,” Dr. James Clarke, interim president for the EMMC Medical Group, said in a news release. “We understand how helping our pediatric patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight can directly translate to them enjoying active, healthy lifestyles as adults. Since many of our patients remain with our practices over the course of their lifetimes, we take every opportunity we can to affect positive change that we hope will persist well into the future.”
One of EMMC’s recognized sites, WOW, exclusively focuses on helping children and adolescents who are at a higher risk for weight-related health problems by using engaging ways to teach healthy eating and fun exercise choices. Its extensive research and efforts in this area, is recognized at both the state and national level.
WOW reaches beyond Greater Bangor through telemedicine, partnering with The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle and a satellite clinic in Ellsworth to reach children in rural areas.
“Since 2004 there’s been a growing interest in Let’s Go!,” said Dr. Victoria Rogers, director of Let’s Go! “ I know how busy providers and their teams are so rather than ask them to do more, we offer ideas and tools to help them be as effective as possible, it’s about quality not quantity. And thanks to efforts like these, we’re starting to see Maine’s childhood obesity rates level off.”
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