More than 10 years have passed since the first Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for obesity management were published, which included guidelines for both adults and pediatric. We believe there is a need to update the CPGs to ensure they reflect current management strategies and incorporate emerging therapies and principles, including patient-centered and inter-professional approaches. We are taking a systematic, evidence-based approach to updating the guidelines with partners who have extensive expertise in conducting knowledge syntheses to inform guideline development. We believe that children, youth, and families living with obesity should expect that health care professionals are knowledgeable and competent in pediatric weight management, which is why our primary audience for these CPGs includes health care professionals and health care decision makers. The guidelines will include recommendations to establish core competencies among health care professionals to optimize patient-centered care. We anticipate the guidelines will be used by decision makers to inform future health services and policies to improve evidence-based care for managing pediatric obesity.
Starting as a self-organized group of clinicians and researchers in early 2019, our Executive Steering Committee grew over several months to include (a) parent and family representatives, (b) experts in knowledge syntheses and guideline development, and (c) administrative and research support from Obesity Canada and the University of Alberta.
Executive Steering Committee members include: Geoff Ball (University of Alberta), Catherine Birken (University of Toronto), Ryan and Wendy Drummond (Edmonton, AB), Jill Hamilton (University of Toronto), Melanie Henderson (McGill University), Bradley Johnston (Dalhousie University), Tracy Lebel (Edmonton, AB), Katherine Morrison (McMaster University), and Diana Sherifali (McMaster University). Administrative and research support are provided by Nicole Gehring (University of Alberta), Christina Giese (University of Alberta), Dawn Hatanaka (Obesity Canada) and Nicole Pearce (Obesity Canada).
Over recent months, we’ve been in touch with representatives from numerous national and provincial organizations to (a) inform them of our ongoing work to update the CPGs and (2) explore opportunities for potential collaboration and information sharing. These groups include: Alberta Health Services, Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, Canadian Paediatric Society, Canadian Psychological Association, Canadian Society of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Childhood Obesity Foundation, Diabetes Canada, Dietitians of Canada, Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, Pediatricians Alliance of Ontario, and Public Health Agency of Canada.
If you are interested in supporting this initiative, or want to learn more, please email us!
Photo credit: Gustavo Fring via Canva
