In response to the growing epidemic of childhood obesity in this country, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has developed two DVDs to teach children and their parents about smart eating and physical activity and to educate clinicians about the best ways to prevent and treat obesity in children.
AHRQ partnered with FitTV, the newest network from Discovery Networks, U.S., to produce a fun and interactive DVD for children and their parents called Max's Magical Delivery: Fit for Kids. This is a 30-minute tool designed for families and children ages 5 to 9 to provide them with fun ways to incorporate physical activity and healthy foods into their daily lives. The DVD features healthy tips on ways parents can take small steps to make changes in the way their families eat and exercise every day, as well entertaining and informative segments with an energetic cast of child actors.
AHRQ is partnering with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and other groups to distribute copies of the DVD to clinicians and encourage them to have their patients order additional copies.
A second DVD, Childhood Obesity: Combating the Epidemic, has also been produced in partnership with Discovery Health Channel for pediatricians, family physicians, and other health care providers to help them learn new methods for assessing and treating childhood overweight and obesity. It features a panel discussion with Donald Shifrin, M.D., a member of the obesity task force at the American Academy of Pediatrics; Rick Kellerman, M.D., a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians; and Francine Kaufman, M.D., who heads the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Childrens' Hospital in Los Angeles. This 55-minute program provides helpful clinical tools—such as body mass index measurement in children—in addition to tips for initiating and sustaining behavior change in children. This DVD also includes the children's version, Max's Magical Delivery.
The program began airing on the Discovery Health Channel on Sunday, September 26 (9:00 a.m. EDT) and will air every week through November 28. Free continuing education credits are available for children's health care providers, including nurse practitioners, through both the DVD version and the program on Discovery Health. Visit www.discoveryhealthcme.com for more information.
Select for a preview of both DVDs.
Copies of the DVDs for children and parents (AHRQ Publication No. 04-0088-DVD) and for clinicians (AHRQ Publication No. 04-0089-DVD) are available from the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse.