Conversations About Care

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Claudia Fox, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota and Co-Director of the Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine, and Dr. Sarah Armstrong, Professor of Pediatrics at Duke University, Director of the Duke Healthy Lifestyles Clinic, and co-author of the Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on Obesity. Together, they discuss how to discuss pediatric obesity pharmacotherapy with patients and families. They provide tips on how to introduce the physiology of obesity, how to build alliance with both patients and caregivers, and how to address the long-term nature of treatment.

Resources:

• Coding Quick Reference Card (tinyurl.com/5dk8jh9n)

• AAP Coding Hotline (tinyurl.com/ycfc9957)

• Obesity CPG Website: New Pharmacotherapy Resources Coming September 2026 (https://tinyurl.com/367n7w4m)

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Bob Murray, a pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition specialist, and Cathy Ramstetter, Ph.D., a health educator, to discuss the new AAP policy statement, "The Crucial Role of Recess in School." Together, they explore how recess and wakeful rest support the brain's ability to process learning, the role of physical activity in memory consolidation, and how pediatricians can advocate for quality recess in schools.

Resources:

• The Crucial Role of Recess in School | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics (https://tinyurl.com/2cp8h4r8)

• Why School Recess Is Important for Kids of All Ages: AAP Policy Explained - HealthyChildren.org (https://tinyurl.com/ydfr3v7k)

• Community Health and Advocacy (https://tinyurl.com/mudu9arr)

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Zmuda, Associate Dean of Health Systems and Operations at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Together, they discuss the new AAP Policy Statement, "The Role of the Pediatrician to Promote Effective Approaches for Child and Adolescent Nutrition in Schools." They examine the foundational role of school nutrition, the social and emotional component of school meals, and how pediatricians can empower families and peers to learn more and support school nutrition.

Resources:

• The Role of the Pediatrician to Promote Effective Approaches for Child and Adolescent Nutrition in Schools: Policy Statement | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics (https://tinyurl.com/3nv7ywza)

• AAP: School Meals Play Key Role in Child Nutrition, Growth & Development - HealthyChildren.org (https://tinyurl.com/mr66r3d2)

• Healthy Meals for Children at School and During Breaks - HealthyChildren.org (https://tinyurl.com/mfnn29am)

• Public Policies to Reduce Sugary Drink Consumption in Children and Adolescents | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics (https://tinyurl.com/mrytv6zd)

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by three authors of the newly published TEAM UP Randomized Clinical Trial research paper: Dr. Amanda Staiano, Professor of Population Health at Pennington Biomedical Research Center; Dr. Stephen Cook, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center; and Dr. Denise Wilfley, Scott Rudolph University Professor at Washington University School of Medicine. Together, they discuss the study's findings, which show that childhood obesity can be effectively treated through a family-based intervention program.

Resources:

· Family-Centered Child Obesity Treatment: The TEAM UP Randomized Clinical Trial (https://tinyurl.com/3d2uc9tn)

· Proven childhood obesity treatment also works at pediatrician’s office (https://tinyurl.com/yd4bddpd)

· Team Up Trial Handout (https://tinyurl.com/ydzm5wey)

This is part 3 of the Navigating Access to Pharmacotherapy series. This series delves into the national landscape of healthcare access and coverage for adolescents seeking pharmacotherapy. In this episode, Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Amy Christison, FAAP, DABOM, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Illinois, and Medical Director of Healthy Kids U, in Peoria, Illinois. She is also joined by Dr. Katie Queen, FAAP, DABOM, a double board-certified pediatrician in pediatrics and obesity medicine, Director of the Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health Weight and Nutrition Center in Bogalusa, Louisiana.

Resources:

Coding Quick Reference Card (tinyurl.com/5dk8jh9n)

AAP Coding Hotline (tinyurl.com/ycfc9957)

This is part 1 of the Navigating Access to Pharmacotherapy series. This series delves into the national landscape of healthcare access and coverage for adolescents seeking pharmacotherapy. In this episode, Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Tracy Zvenyach, PhD, MS, RN the Vice President of Advocacy and Research, at the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). She is also joined by Dr. Sarah Armstrong, FAAP, an associate director of the Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight and professor of pediatrics at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina.

Resources:

Obesity Action Coalition (https://www.obesityaction.org/)

Access to Care - Obesity Action Coalition (https://tinyurl.com/2e5tay5d)

Coding Quick Reference Card (https://tinyurl.com/5dk8jh9n)

AAP Coding Hotline (https://tinyurl.com/ycfc9957)

This is part 2 of the Navigating Access to Pharmacotherapy series. This series delves into the national landscape of healthcare access and coverage for adolescents seeking pharmacotherapy. In this episode, Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. John Rausch, MPH, FAAP who runs the Health for Life Multidisciplinary Weight Management Program at Columbia University in New York, New York. She is also joined by Dr. Sarah Barlow, FAAP, a professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern and Director of the Integrative Program for Childhood Obesity at Children's Health in Dallas, Texas.

Resources:

Coding Quick Reference Card (tinyurl.com/5dk8jh9n)

AAP Coding Hotline (tinyurl.com/ycfc9957)

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Hans Kersten, a professor of pediatrics at Drexel University College of Medicine and attending physician at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. Dr. Kersten is also chair of the CPG Committee on Faltering Weight. Together, they discuss the new Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for Diagnosis and Management of Faltering Weight and how providers can integrate the guidelines into practice.

Resources:

• Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnosis and Management of Faltering Weight (https://tinyurl.com/wh3rzp27)

• AAP Releases New Guidance on Faltering Weight in Children - HealthyChildren.org (https://tinyurl.com/4wywhydb)

• Pediatrics Research Roundup, Diagnosis and Management of Faltering Weight – Ep. 286 (https://tinyurl.com/ydz88mjt)

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Natalie Muth and Registered Dietitian Carrie Hamady to explore balanced approaches to nutrition and engage in meaningful conversations about healthy eating with families. They tackle popular nutrition topics, including high-protein diets and saturated fats. They also discuss how to identify credible sources of nutrition information.

Resources:

• Sign up for the Nourish & Flourish 2026 Webinar Series, here (https://tinyurl.com/3n8hp3sf)

• Watch the 2025 Nourish & Flourish webinar series, here (tinyurl.com/ya6d2xzr) *(Under "Webinars" > "Nourish & Flourish Webinar Series"))

• Sign up for access to the Nourish & Flourish Speaker's Kit, here (tinyurl.com/3dtfbb3h)

​The AAP gratefully acknowledges support for the Nouris​​h & Flourish Speaker's Kit, and this podcast episode, from the National Dairy Council.​​

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, who serves as the Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Medical & Clinical Psychology, as well as the Director of the Developmental Research Laboratory focusing on Eating & Weight Behaviors at Uniformed Services University. Together, they discuss Marian's book, The New Food Fight: How the Weight Management and Eating Disorder Fields Became So Divided and What We Can Do About It.

Resources:

• The New Food Fight: How the Weight Management and Eating Disorder Fields Became So Divided and What We Can Do About It (https://tinyurl.com/ydzenfxp)

• Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents, 2025 and 2024 Webinar Series (https://tinyurl.com/IHCWProfEducation)

• Compassionate Communication: Empathetic, Non-stigmatizing and Engaging Conversations About Weight, Webinar (https://tinyurl.com/IHCWProfEducation