The Northeastern Ontario Health Centre for Kids is enhancing a pediatric outpatient program called Bringing Active Living and Nutrition into your Childhood Everyday (BALANCE) to help children who struggle with their weight.
Launched in 2010, the program was designed for children between the ages of 2 and 18 who meet the criteria for obesity and are at risk for other health-related problems including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and depression.
The program will be enhanced to include children who do not meet the criteria for obesity but are considered overweight and have a body mass index greater than 85 per cent of their peers of the same age, height, and sex.
Body mass index is a measure of the level of a person’s body fat, using height and weight.
The program will also accept referrals from the general public, as well as family physicians and nurse practitioners, and offer a 12-week intensive program, compared to the original eight-month program to allow more children to take part.
“About one-third of all children in Ontario are considered obese or overweight, so this is one of the most serious pediatric health problems we’re facing,” said Angie Wiwczor, a nurse practitioner at Health Sciences North, who is the medical lead with the BALANCE program.
"The BALANCE program is not about losing weight. It’s really about encouraging a healthy lifestyle so that children can enjoy their lives more and avoid serious health conditions down the road.”
