The focus of the Be Well 101 project is the result of collaboration between the physicians (Children’s Cardiovascular Medicine) managing a high volume of patients with obesity and/or insulin resistance and the resources and expertise of the community health system (WellStar).
SITUATION
Recognizing that the incidence of pediatric obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, WellStar Health System has partnered with our Pediatric Cardiologists, Children’s Cardiovascular Medicine, in a collaborative effort to provide a targeted multidisciplinary program aimed at having significant reduction of the impact of comorbidities in at risk children ages seven to seventeen.
Statistics show that one in three adults have a condition called insulin resistance, often a precursor to diabetes. In addition, over half of hypertensive adults have insulin resistance. Over 80% of adult diabetics have insulin resistance.
Prevalence of pediatric obesity is at 15% of 6-19 year old population or greater and is on a steady increase. The presence of obesity predisposes the child to insulin resistance, early hypertension and future type 2 diabetes. Four primary risk factors have been identified by the American Diabetes Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics as placing children at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes:
Overweight
Family history of diabetes
Ethnicity
The presence of insulin resistance
The focus of the Be Well 101 project is the result of collaboration between the physicians (Children’s Cardiovascular Medicine) managing a high volume of patients with obesity and/or insulin resistance and the resources and expertise of the community health system (WellStar). The hope is to reduce the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the community’s pediatric population, which in turn will create a healthy community long term. This should then reduce the health care burden of the community.
Recognizing that the incidence of pediatric obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, WellStar Health System has partnered with our Pediatric Cardiologists, Children’s Cardiovascular Medicine, in a collaborative effort to provide a targeted multidisciplinary program aimed at having significant reduction of the impact of comorbidities in at risk children ages seven to seventeen. 
Statistics show that one in three adults have a condition called insulin resistance, often a precursor to diabetes. In addition, over half of hypertensive adults have insulin resistance. Over 80% of adult diabetics have insulin resistance. 
Prevalence of pediatric obesity is at 15% of 6-19 year old population or greater and is on a steady increase. The presence of obesity predisposes the child to insulin resistance, early hypertension and future type 2 diabetes. Four primary risk factors have been identified by the American Diabetes Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics as placing children at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes: 
The focus of the Be Well 101 project is the result of collaboration between the physicians (Children’s Cardiovascular Medicine) managing a high volume of patients with obesity and/or insulin resistance and the resources and expertise of the community health system (WellStar). The hope is to reduce the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in the community’s pediatric population, which in turn will create a healthy community long term. This should then reduce the health care burden of the community. 
