Children's Fitness Clinic

 

Children's Fitness Clinic

Location: Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center
 2270 Ivy Road Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: 434-982-1607
1-800-251-3627 ext. 2-1607
Fax: 434-982-6278
Email: uva-cfc@virginia.edu or sbc2n@virginia.edu, Susan Cluett, N.P., Program Director

Clinic Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Friday 9:00AM - 12:00N

Victoria Norwood, M.D. - Medical Director
Susan Cluett, C.R.N.P. - Program Director
Anna King, CTRS - Outreach Program Coordinator
Angie Hasemann, R.D. - Registered Dietitian

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What is Our Program?

The University of Virginia Children's Fitness Clinic (CFC) is a six-month behavior modification program to help you and your overweight child make healthy lifestyle changes in a positive, team-structured environment. The CFC is the first multidisciplinary weight management clinic in Virginia. Our team includes a registered dietitian, an exercise physiologist and a nurse practitioner. We perform an initial evaluation of your child, including a medical exam. Based on your child's individual needs, the clinic works closely with you and your child to develop a treatment plan with realistic goals for improving your child's health through dietary and lifestyle changes.

Our Mission is to:

  • promote a healthy lifestyle among children
  • decrease childhood obesity through nutrition and activity goals

 

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

Your Child Should Be Referred If:

BMI is at the 85th percentile or higher

Your family has a history of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, or obesity

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 inquire about coverage for our services.

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 Parents Can Do

Ask your child's healthcare 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 is 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 fruits and vegetables at every meal and introduce them to a large variety.
  • 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... 2 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 Collaborations

Kohl's Growing Up Healthy

fitnessGUH.jpgThe Kohl's Growing Up Healthy Program (KGUH) is an innovative collaboration between the UVA Children's Fitness Clinic, the Social Issues in Medicine course at the University of Virginia Medical School, and the Albemarle County Extended Day Care Program. In the program, UVA medical students teach Kindergarten through 5th grade students about healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits to maintain a strong body and mind.

Since 2004, Kohl's has donated over $243,000 to the UVA Children's Hospital to fund health education programming aimed at helping kids to understand what it means to be healthy. So far, the Kohl's Growing Up Healthy program has been implemented in 16 Albemarle County Schools and 2 Charlottesville City schools and has reached over 700 children. The program will be coming to Walker Elementary and the Westhaven Afterschool Program in Fall 2012.

kohls-presentation.jpgOn March 31, 2012, Kohl's Department Store and the Children's Fitness Clinic will host the 2nd Annual Kohl's Growing Up Healthy Expo, a free event open to the public. Children can take partin nutrition lessons and games and learn things like My Plate and healthy portion sizes.

During the expo, Kohl's will present the UVA Children's Fitness Clinic with a check for $63,113 in continued support of the Kohl's Growing Up Healthy Program.

Community Obesity Task Force

The UVA Fitness Clinic has been a participant with the Family Health and Fitness Camp of the Thomas Jefferson Health District's Childhood Obesity Taskforce for the past two years.
For more information, contact:  Barbara.Yager@vhd.virginia.gov

Telemedicine

The CFC collaborates with the Craig County Health Department and Public Schools and the UVA Health System Office of Telemedicine to reach families statewide.

NACHRI

The Children's Fitness Clinic was selected via a national search by NACHRI (National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions) to participate in the Obesity Focus Group to help define the best strategies to combat childhood obesity.