Children’s Fitness Clinic

The Children’s Fitness Clinic is a six-month behavior modification program to help you and your overweight child make healthy lifestyle changes in a positive environment. Our team includes a registered dietitian, an exercise physiologist and a nurse practitioner.

The program is for children who are at or above the 85th percentile in body mass index (BMI) - a measure of the child's weight relative to height and a common method for assessing health. An elevated BMI increases the risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, elevated cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

The clinic works closely with you and your child to develop an individualized treatment plan with realistic goals and dietary and lifestyle changes.

See a listing of our care providers.

Your Child Should Be Referred If:

• His BMI is at the 85th percentile or higher
• Your family has a history of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension or obesity

Why a Healthy Lifestyle is Important
Being overweight or obese as a child can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression and a shorter life span. Making healthy lifestyle changes as soon as possible can help prevent these problems.

What About Insurance?

Most of our patients are referred by their primary care provider, though a referral is not always necessary. Please call your insurance company and ask about coverage for our services.

What Parents Can Do
Ask your child's health care provider to measure your child's BMI at each visit. If your child is at or above the 85th percentile, and has not been successful with lifestyle change, speak with your PCP about a referral to our clinic.

You may also contact us at any time if you are concerned about your child's weight or inactivity. It's never too soon to help your child make healthier lifestyle choices.

Health Tips for Parents

• Follow the Food Guide Pyramid as your map for healthy eating. Encourage your child to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables at every meal.
• Encourage your child to eat breakfast every day and model this behavior.
• Watch portions of your child's food.
• Choose healthy options when eating out.
• Drink healthy beverages. Avoid drinks with more than 10 calories/serving.
• For more nutrition tips, go to EatRight.org.
• Your child should participate in at least 1 hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Two hours is even better!
• For home fitness ideas, check out SparkPeople.com and local resources like Charlottesville City Parks and Recreation and Albemarle County Parks and Recreation for structured activities.
• Review your child's height, weight and BMI and discuss their diet and activity level with your healthcare provider at each visit.
• Reduce your child's screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 2 hours of screen time per day for children: this includes television, computers, video games and hand-held games.

Outreach and Collaboration

Find out about our outreach efforts.

Maps: