Fruit was the treat served at Maddie Schlueter’s birthday sleepover this year. Healthy snacks are just one lifestyle change she has made since graduating from the first St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH) FAN Club program.
Funded by the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, FAN Club is a weight management program for children ages 8-12 years whose weight is greater than the 95 percentile for their age and gender. The program focuses on changing participants’ eating behaviors, educating them about good choices, and helping them incorporate exercise into their lives.
Family involvement is key. “The program was designed using evidence-based pediatric weight-loss models. The involvement of a parent or caregiver is an essential component to children’s success,” says Lori Wagner, MD, medical director of FAN Club.
Small groups of 10 children and caregivers meet for two hours weekly for 30 weeks. Children meet as a group for 45 minutes with a behavioral psychologist or dietitian, while caregivers take an exercise class. Then the children exercise while caregivers participate in group discussion. “Immersing the children and engaging them weekly makes them very aware,” Dr. Wagner says.
The first session of FAN Club ended in May. “Families were really positive,” Dr. Wagner says. “Participants felt their health literacy, especially nutritional literacy, was heightened. We collect blood work from the children at their final visit to measure impact on cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure etc.”
Jill Schlueter, who works in the SLCH finance department, enrolled her 9-year-old daughter Maddie in the first class. The Schlueter family has joined a gym, and Maddie strives to exercise for an hour daily. She is reading food labels, checking serving sizes and limiting unhealthy foods. “It’s become a way of life for the whole family,” Jill says.
Those interested in signing up for FAN Club must attend an orientation. From there, children undergo a physical exam and dietary, physical therapy and behavioral evaluations to determine their readiness and commitment.
The program costs $450, equaling $15 per week. Fees may be refunded based on attendance. For instance, attendance at 90 percent of the weekly sessions will result in a 100 percent refund. Through the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, financial assistance is available.
SLCH also offers the Head to Toe weight management program for kids age 8-17, regardless of their BMI percentile. This 10-week program is available year-round.
The next FAN Club session will begin in August, and a second session will begin in October. Dr. Wagner hopes to add a third class in 2010, and eventually extend the program to younger children. To register for a FAN Club orientation, physicians may call Children’s Direct at 800.678.HELP, and parents may contact 314.454.KIDS (4357).