Name
#116 - Combatting Childhood Obesity in Military Connected Youth: Closing Knowledge Gaps with a Novel Curriculum
Date & Time
Monday, February 12, 2024, 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Description

Affecting 1 in 5 children, obesity is one of the most common and complex diseases encountered by health care providers. Obesity is associated with increased risk of nearly every chronic medical condition including type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Increased all-cause mortality, depression rates, and poorer outcomes with infectious disease are all associated with obesity. Although obesity rates among military connected youth are slightly less prevalent (1 in 8), military connected teens are 4 times more likely to express interest in future military service, and 25% of those who serve have a parent who also served in the military. Given this high prevalence of obesity and negative impact on recruitment, one would expect that most military residency training programs that care for children would have a formal curriculum related to pediatric obesity care. Unfortunately, and not uncommonly, providers who take care of pediatric patients (e.g. family medicine, pediatrics, IM-Peds) may experience discomfort related to counseling patients and families (to include motivational interviewing), and may be uncertain about next evaluation and treatment steps, likely related to lack of formal education/curricula surrounding the topic, as well as ongoing changes in management and pharmacotherapy options. Implementation of a focused curriculum on pediatric obesity recognition, evaluation, and management can help improve provider confidence in pediatric obesity care. In this study, we created a curriculum with online brief high-yield videos and resources in addition to an in-person team-based learning session. We investigated the differences in confidence, perceived barriers, and knowledge of pediatric obesity related topics prior to and after the curriculum as well as 6 months after the intervention. Pediatric and family medicine residents from two GME programs participated in the curriculum. Residents reported a significant confidence increase in the accurate diagnosis of obesity, discussing obesity with patients and families in a non-stigmatizing manner, assessing for obesity related comorbidities, using motivational interviewing to create a patient action plan, and identifying patients that may require pharmacotherapy and surgical management. We hope this model could be implemented over the enterprise to advance military physician capabilities to prevent and treat childhood obesity in an early and effective manner.

Location Name
Prince Georges Exhibit Hall A/B
Content Presented on Behalf of
Uniformed Services University
Learning Outcomes
Following this presentation, participants should be able to:
1.Understand the impact of childhood obesity on military recruitment and relocation
2.Appreciate the barriers to diagnosis and treatment of pediatric obesity faced by providers
3.Recognize the value of a curriculum to optimize a knowledge gap for providers
Session Type
Posters
Dropdown Content Presented On Behalf Of:
Uniformed Services University