Blues create new physician toolkit to help combat childhood obesity

We have a new tool in the fight against childhood obesity.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan recently launched the Good Health Club Physician Toolkit^SM, in collaboration with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and other Blue plans nationwide. This unique collection of educational materials is designed to foster better communication between physicians and their pediatric patients on childhood obesity and diabetes prevention.

Early this fall, Blue Cross provider consultants will deliver a kit to all Michigan pediatricians. The toolkit is based on materials created here in Michigan and developed into the resource that is now being shared nationally. It was developed in consultation with the American Diabetes Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The kit offers you a Physician Reference Guide on childhood obesity, as well as items to share with your patients and their parents. Available in English and Spanish, you’ll find: brochures, tip sheets, body mass index charts, wall posters and tracking sheets. In addition to the hard copies you’ll receive, you can also download and print the materials from bcbsm.com.

The toolkit features messages from the Good Health Club, a group of animal characters that encourages children to:

• Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day
• Limit screen time to two hours or less per day
• Get at least one hour of physical activity every day
• Eliminate sweetened drinks

"The Michigan Blues have been actively engaged in the fight against childhood obesity for several years. The launch of the Good Health Club toolkit will allow us to continue working with physicians and health care providers to promote healthy eating and physical activity to their patients and families," said Lynda Rossi, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's vice president of Social Mission and Public Policy.

This latest tool builds on other materials Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan pioneered to encourage healthy choices and behaviors for children. Since 2004, the Michigan Blues have invested more than $3.4 million in grants to schools and community partners to fight childhood obesity. The funding from our Building Healthy Communities grant program supports schools in providing healthy food choices, nutrition education and physical activity programs.