Kid-Fit: Health Management
Kid-Fit helps children and adolescents make healthier lifestyle choices with physical activity, nutrition and behavior support tailored to their age, BMI and health needs.
Today’s children are less active, have more access to unhealthy food and spend more time on screens than ever before. Those habits have led to an alarming increase in childhood obesity and obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes, lipid abnormalities and psychosocial challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic also changed our lives in many ways. For some children, this has meant increases in weight gain along with associated health problems.
That’s why Atlantic Health Goryeb Children’s pediatric endocrinology team offers Kid-Fit, which uses physical activity, nutrition and behavioral modifications to help overweight children and adolescents make healthier lifestyle choices.
Kid-Fit’s individualized programs vary based on each child’s age, body mass index (BMI) and health needs.
To qualify, children must meet one of the following criteria:
- Age 3 to 18 with a BMI greater than 85th percentile
- Weight-related health problems
- Rapid weight gain
Patients and families looking for help living a healthier lifestyle must first schedule an intake appointment with the Kid-Fit team. This initial consultation helps us assess the exact needs of each child and enroll him or her in the program that’s most appropriate.
As part of Atlantic Health Children’s Health, we have medical specialists who provide superior pediatric care that is specific to your child’s needs, while also respectful of every family’s values. Physician services are provided through Atlantic Medical Group and are on staff at Goryeb Children's Hospital.
Some children with obesity cannot achieve a healthy weight through home-based lifestyle changes alone. To meet their needs, Goryeb Children’s Hospital offers a six-month, medically supervised weight management program called Kid-Fit Med. It is available to children ages 5 to 18 who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than the 95th percentile for their age or have a lower BMI with weight-associated health problems.
Kid-Fit Med focuses on medically managing the child’s obesity and any associated conditions, such as lipid abnormalities or diabetes.
Our individualized treatment plans may also include nutritional counseling, physical activity and psychosocial assessments to help achieve successful and long-term weight management. For our older adolescents who have been successful in making lifestyle changes but continue to struggle with weight, additional treatment considerations include pharmaceutical and surgical interventions.
The Kid-Fit Med team — which consists of a physician, nurse practitioner, registered dietitian and a social worker — meets with patients on a monthly basis to track their progress and make adjustments to their treatment plan. This is done with the aid of state-of-the-art technology that can assess body composition and body fat percentage.
The cost of our program varies based on insurance coverage. Patients should always check with their individual carriers to determine our participation with their plan and authorization requirements.
As part of Atlantic Health Children’s Health, physician services are provided through Atlantic Medical Group and are on staff at Goryeb Children’s Hospital.
Families can make changes to help children achieve an active and healthy lifestyle. Goryeb Children's Hospital offers guidance through the Kid-Fit Ed program for children ages 3 through 18 years old. Our nutritionist works with you to identify specific steps that can be promoted at home. Our program uses state-of-the-art technology that can assess body composition and body fat percentage.
We use this information, along with evaluations of the child’s eating habits and physical activity behaviors, to develop a treatment plan that’s tailored to individual needs.
Patients will meet with our nutritionist on a monthly basis to assess progress and review goals. The treatment plan is adjusted or new treatments are prescribed, as needed, to ensure long-term success and a healthier lifestyle. Referrals to an exercise physiologist, social worker or physician are provided as needed.
The cost of our services varies based on insurance coverage. Patients should always check with their individual carriers to determine our participation with their plan and authorization requirements.
As part of Atlantic Health Children’s Health, physician services are provided through Atlantic Medical Group and are on staff at Goryeb Children’s Hospital.