Paediatric Healthy Living Program

Program Overview

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Paediatric Healthy Living Program (PHLP) is a family-based program for children ages 4 to 17 years of age designed to support families in building healthy lifestyles. Through focusing on physical activity, nutrition, emotional well-being, and positive habits, the program aims to help children living in larger bodies (based on program criteria) improve their overall health and quality of life. Healthy lifestyle change is a process that takes time, requiring an ongoing commitment to challenge old habits as needed, and to incorporate new ones. Recognizing that healthy bodies come in many different shapes and sizes, the PHLP emphasizes the importance of family support in achieving a healthy, active lifestyle.

The PHLP is available to eligible patients and their families for a two year period where families focus on health behaviours within their control. Individual and group programming is provided for families to learn tools and strategies to support long-term healthy living. Research shows that family support is very important for success and for this reason, we require at least one parent or caregiver to attend appointments.

Our Team

Our interprofessional team includes a Registered Dietitian, Registered Kinesiologist, Nurse Practitioner, Social Work, Psychologist and Paediatrician.

Registered Dietitian

The Registered Dietitian (RD) provides individual and group nutrition education and counselling on various topics to promote healthy behaviours. Educational topics may include healthy food/drink choices, creating a healthy food environment, label reading, meal planning, learning how to listen to and honour hunger and fullness cues, etc. Nutrition counselling can improve eating behaviours and optimize health. Examples of healthy nutrition behaviours include meal regularity, eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains (as they are accessible), and drinking water as a main beverage. The RD also monitors individuals throughout the program to determine change in behaviour and nutritional status.

Registered Kinesiologist

The Registered Kinesiologist provides families with education and counselling on the benefits of movement, regular sleep patterns and the risks of sedentary behaviour on health. This includes supporting families with their goals around increasing daily physical activity, managing screen time, improving sleep habits and working through challenges that come with making lifestyle changes. Group based family physical activity sessions, exercise programs and community programming are available to our families.

Partnerships include:

Family Physical Activity Sessions in partnership with Lakehead University School of Kinesiology (available to families in our program)

Youth Intro to Fitness Classes in partnership with the Canada Games Complex (available to all youth in the community)

Social Work

The Social Worker provides psychosocial assessment and counselling support to children, youth and families related to their healthy living goals. Assessment and intervention focus on family functioning, emotional health, coping strategies, linking families to appropriate community supports and promotion of healthy behaviours. As Team Lead for the Program, the Social Worker is the primary patient contact and is responsible for program coordination.

Psychology

The Psychological Associate provides assessment and treatment for children, youth, and families. Assessments focus on identifying psychological factors that interfere or assist with healthy lifestyle management. Treatment focuses on addressing psychosocial challenges that impact emotional well-being and overall quality of life.

Nurse Practitioner

The Nurse Practitioner conducts ongoing medical assessment and monitoring of children and adolescents throughout the duration of the program. Patients are screened for health conditions through physical assessments and diagnostic tests. Visits with the Nurse Practitioner may include screening tests such as blood work, height, weight, and blood pressure measurements. The Nurse Practitioner works collaboratively with other team and family members to develop realistic goals and treatment plans.

Paediatrician

The Paediatrician is the medical lead for the program and provides medical consultation when needed. As a member of the Ontario Paediatric Bariatric Network, the Paediatrician ensures that the program is providing quality, evidence based care consistent with best practices across Ontario.

Program Eligibility

Children must be between the ages of 4-17 years of age
AND
Have a BMI >97th percentile
OR
Have a BMI >85th percentile plus an obesity related co-morbidity such as: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Obesity-related Type II Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, Hypertension, Psychological impairment, obesity-related orthopaedic problems, Pseudotumor Cerebri

Referral Process

Referrals are accepted from health care providers who have assessed the child/youth to meet the above outlined eligibility criteria. We also accept referrals from parents; if you would like to see if your child is eligible for our program, please call us at 807-684-6058 to arrange a screening appointment with our Nurse Practitioner.

Referral form

How do I get there?

The TBRHSC Paediatric Healthy Living Program is located in the Medical Centre (west of the main Hospital building towards Golf Links Road) in Suite 104 (on the first floor).