Implementation and Evaluation of a Practice Change Incorporating a Weight Loss Strategy for Adolescent Patients with a BMI Percentile in the Overweight and/or Obese Category

Background: Adolescent obesity has become an epidemic nationwide and globally. In Ohio, rates of obesity among African American, Hispanic and other minority students continues to rise. Adolescent obesity increases the risk of developing co-morbid health issues, such as Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), hypertension (HTN) and fatty liver disease.;Objective: To implement and evaluate a practice change incorporating a weight loss strategy in a large pediatric gastroenterology clinic for adolescent patients with a body mass index percentile (BMI) in the overweight and/or obese category.;Method: The capstone project practice change involved the use of a nosugaradded beverages weight loss strategy used by the physicians and nurse practitioners in the department after identifying the adolescents who were either overweight or obese based on their BMI percentile. The project was evaluated with pre- and post -- intervention chart reviews.;Population: The twenty physicians and seven nurse practitioners in the Pediatric Gastroenterology Department at Nationwide Children\u27s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.;Expected Outcome: To increase proportionally the number of adolescent patients who are diagnosed with overweight and/or obesity, increase the percentage of a specific weight loss strategy for adolescent patients diagnosed with overweight and/or obesity and increase the number of referrals to a weight loss center or other comparable facility based on the diagnosis of obesity among adolescents