"Let’s meet in the middle and listen to what’s happening in communities. All across U.S. communities, there are pockets of promise and programs focused on family interventions, behavior change, and health disparities, but there are many obstacles to true change. Currently, the work relies on visionary champions within a community, but when the champion leaves the work, the work often goes away.

There is a lack of resources on every level, from public health, research, primary care, specialty care, and advocacy, especially to sustain and scale effective efforts. The burden of sustainability must not be placed on one champion’s shoulders, but rather viewed as an opportunity for sustainability and must be a shared effort among multiple partners representing multiple sectors."

Karla Lester is a pediatrician.

She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD article, "When it comes to weight stigma in children and teens, let’s meet in the middle." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/when-it-comes-to-weight-stigma-in-children-and-teens-lets-meet-in-the-middle.html)