Pediatric Obesity Health Services Research Work Group

Mission

The Pediatric Obesity Health Services Research Work Group focuses on the advancement of the study and implementation of pediatric obesity treatment and research methodologies among health practitioners, researchers, decision makers, government staff, health economists, evaluators, and community members and leaders.

The mission of the Pediatric Obesity Health Services Research Work Group is to advance the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity and co-occurring conditions in the United States.

This work group aims to build a network of interdisciplinary members to synergize efforts, identify and answer gaps, and advance implementation of evidence-based practices and policies for pediatric obesity prevention and treatment.

Objectives

  • Cultivate high quality health services and implementation science research and increase evaluation capacity focused on the treatment and management of pediatric obesity
  • Identify and describe disparities in accessing and engaging in pediatric obesity prevention and treatment to reduce barriers, improve acceptability to caregivers, catalyze action, and promote health equity
  • Inform policies and practices that improve medical and public health practice and healthcare reimbursement and program sustainability for pediatric obesity
  • Connect researchers, evaluators, public health practitioners, non-profit organizations, individuals with lived experience, and healthcare providers to raise awareness and advance the dissemination of evidence-based pediatric obesity policies, programs, and practices into clinical and community settings
  • Disseminate timely, state of science methodologies, tools, and other resources that facilitate utility of data for pediatric health services research
  • Evaluate cost-effectiveness of childhood obesity treatments and inform recommendations to scale and spread state reimbursement policies

To learn about different Pediatric Obesity Treatment Interest Groups, click here.


Webinars

If you are interested in the recordings of any of these webinars, please email [email protected] to request it.

2025

CORD 3.0 updates across sites
Webinar Date: October 16, 2025

Current Landscape and Challenges to Treating Pediatric Obesity
Webinar Date: September 18, 2025

Spotlight on early-career researchers 
Webinar Date: August 21, 2025

Gaps in Adolescent Obesity Pharmacotherapy
Webinar Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025

Updates on workgroup priorities and projects
Webinar Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025

Primary Care Provider Concerns with Preschooler Weight Status and Clinical Decision-Making Processes
Webinar Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025

Eating Disorder Screening in Youth at Higher Weights
Webinar Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025

Discussion on the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology Commission: Definition and Diagnostic Criteria of Clinical Obesity
Webinar Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025

2024

Anti-Obesity Medication Trials in Children and Adolescents (Fox)
Webinar Date: Friday, October 25, 2024

Behavioral support within anti-obesity medication trials (Torbahn & Lister)
Webinar Date: Monday, September 9, 2024

Behavioral treatment in conjunction with anti-obesity medications (Barlow)
Webinar Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Expert consensus on the role of behavioral treatment in child obesity co-therapy
Webinar Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024

CHA survey efforts and discussion of gaps/projects
Webinar Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Work group future directions & CDC presentation on current projects and tools
Webinar Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Working meeting about the Children's Hospital Association Survey (Cook)
Webinar Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024

2023

Pediatric Obesity Health Services Research WG: December Planning Meeting
Webinar Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Strong4Life Clinic: A multi-disciplinary clinic treating children and adolescents with obesity (Meisel, Routly, Williams & Walsh)
Webinar Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Not all dietary changes are problematic: The relationship between childhood obesity treatment and eating pathology (Balantekin & Raynor)
Webinar Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2023

 

Resources