Feasibility of a Clinic-Community Partnership to Treat Childhood Obesity

Background. “Bull City Fit” is a childhood obesity treatment partnership between Duke Children’s pediatric weight management clinic and Durham Department of Parks and Recreation. Objectives. Report on feasibility and implementation, characteristics of participants, and predictors of attendance. Methods. Mixed methods study consisting of (1) a retrospective cohort analysis (n = 171) reporting demographic, attendance, and clinical data and (2) structured focus groups among stakeholders to identify implementation facilitators and barriers. Results. Higher attendance was associated with Spanish language (P = .07), more clinic visits (P = .03), shorter time to first attendance (P = .06), lower child z–body mass index (BMI) at baseline (P = .08), and lower parent BMI (P = .02). Associations were mitigated after controlling for demographic characteristics. BMI z-score did not differ between low- and moderate/high attenders at 6 months. Family inclusion and community engagement emerged as positive themes during focus groups. Conclusions. Clinic-community partnerships engage diverse populations in fitness and nutrition activities, but no specific patient characteristics appear to predict greater attendance.