Even though the literature for early childhood obesity intervention and prevention is nascent, it’s already evident that to see obesity primarily as a clinical issue is too limiting, according to Dr. Paul.
“This is the focus of my career, and I have state-of-the-art techniques. Yet, I still have plenty of obese patients of all ages in my care,” he said. How should he be reimbursed for treating these patients, particularly if some of them are already on the road to a lifetime of obesity, having been set upon it long before being diagnosed?
“I think a pediatrician should be responsible for delivering content and good advice, and addressing the health issues. That can be documented, and we can be scored on that” said Dr. Paul, but “it might be unfair to judge a pediatrician on the proportion of the number of children who are overweight or obese in his or her practice because there are so many factors that are going to be involved in that outcome.
“There is only so much we can do in the clinic.”
There were no conflicts of interest to report.
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