IDEAL Clinic

 

Children’s National Hospital is one of only a few dedicated pediatric teams in the nation that offers a continuum of care and support for families. We aim to empower children and teens, from ages 18 months to 18 years old, to improve their quality of life and to achieve health gains that will follow them into adulthood.

Improving your child’s health is our priority because children who are at an unhealthy weight are at greater risk for serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, depression, heart disease and fatty liver disease, among other health complications, and they are more likely to become adults who are above their healthy weight range.

Choosing Children’s National for Preventing and Treating Childhood Obesity

Highlights of our program include:

• Family-centered programs. Obesity is a chronic medical condition influenced by environmental, social, economic, behavioral and genetic factors. Through our innovative programs and interventions, we find out what your family needs to be successful, and we support you in your efforts to make lifestyle modifications that have a positive impact on health. 
• Multidisciplinary care. Our clinical team is made up of physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered dieticians. All patients in our program will receive a complete medical evaluation as well as individualized diet and lifestyle counseling with a dietician experienced in working with patients with obesity. 
• Care for children to young adults. Our team is experienced in caring for the physical as well as psychological differences between children and teenagers. We prepare teens to continue their healthy lifestyles into adulthood, as they enter the workforce or go off to college. 
• Personalized medical and surgical care. We recognize that obesity is a multifactorial medical condition that may not respond to lifestyle alone and utilize medications and bariatric surgery when clinically indicated. Our Bariatric Surgery Program provides a durable weight management solution for children and adolescents who are struggling with their weight and associated comorbidities. We consult with you to discuss the options and develop a preparatory and post-procedure plan for successful outcomes. Our bariatric surgery team offers pediatric laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a mainstay of our program, which demonstrates the best outcome for most children and adolescents suffering from obesity. 

Improving Diet, Energy and Activity for Life Clinic

The IDEAL Clinic includes pediatricians, pediatric nurse practitioners and clinical dietitians. Our multidisciplinary team helps children and teens live a healthier lifestyle, achieve a healthy BMI and reduce the risk of complications related to obesity. The team meets with patients every four to eight weeks and can extend to a duration of greater than one year, depending on the needs of the patient and their families.

Referral guidelines for the IDEAL Clinic:

• Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex with a weight-related co-morbidity, or BMI at or above the 99th percentile where patients may benefit from more intensive dietary counseling and support with  additional medical or surgical weight management treatments as indicated.
•  Common weight related co-morbidities include: 
  
  • Hypertension 
  • Dyslipidemia/Hypercholesterolemia 
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea 
  • Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes 
    
  • Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease 
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome 
  • Acanthosis Nigricans 
  • Skin breakdown and infections 
  • Musculoskeletal conditions (Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), Blount’s disease) 
  • Psychosocial issues 
  • Nutritional deficiencies (Vitamin D)
• Laboratory assessment, clinic notes, and growth charts are requested with referral
  • Fasting Labs include: Lipid panel, HgbA1C, Complete Metabolic Panel, TSH, Vitamin D, and Insulin level. For patients requiring other additional testing or subspecialty care, the IDEAL Clinic team will make recommendations and referrals where appropriate.

To speak with a member of the IDEAL Clinic, please call 202-476-7200. If you are coming to your child's first IDEAL Clinic appointment, please fill out the forms that will be emailed to you prior to your visit. You will receive a dietary questionnaire via email and can complete that online.