FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why do I need to attend every session with my child?

How much does it cost?

Does insurance cover any of the individual and/or group visits?

Are there age restrictions?

Does my child need to be referred by a physician?

May I bring my other children to group sessions?

Will my child be examined for any possible metabolic disorders?

Will my child be given a prescribed diet and exercise plan?

What is screen time and why is it important?

Why do I need to attend every session with my child?

Changing habits, especially eating and activity behavior, is very hard. Making new habits last a lifetime is going to require a serious commitment from both child and parent to work together as a team.

Families who work together reinforce themselves in ways that health professionals cannot. Kids model themselves after their parents’ behavior, and parents work hard to keep the commitments they make to their children.

If either child or parent is not ready to commit to the program, it may be better to delay participation until both are ready.

How much does it cost?

Bay Area Committed to Kids is covered by some, but not all insurance carriers.

For families interested in the program without insurance coverage, cash payment is available.

• The initial 2-hour evaluation is $350.
• The 10-week group is $1250.
• Follow-up visits are $125 and last approximately 30-45 minutes.

All cash paying families will be given a copy of their “super-bill” to send to their insurance company for possible reimbursement.

If you cannot afford to pay for the group sessions and your insurance company will not pay or reimburse you, you may be eligible to receive a “scholarship” on an as available, sliding scale basis.

Are there age restrictions?

We currently offer age-specific group programs for children ages 7 to 10, 11-14, and teens age 14 to 18 based on demand.  Individually, we are happy to work with all children and adolescents from the ages of 2 to 18.

Does my child need to be referred by a physician?

No. Self-referral is encouraged.

May I bring my other children to group sessions?

All family members, especially other involved adults in your child’s life, are encouraged to attend the group session as healthy lifestyle changes should involve the entire family, no matter what their weight.

 Keep in mind that the “target child” will be the focus of treatment, yet all family members are encouraged to participate in sessions. 

We do ask the parent to be responsible for the supervision of their children.  If you think this may be difficult to do while participating in the group, please do not bring that child.

Will my child be examined for any possible metabolic disorders?

Yes. Each child participating in the group classes will be seen individually by the pediatrician prior to joining the classes. A thorough medical examination concentrating on the medical complications associated with overweight will be performed. Appropriate pediatric subspecialty physicians in the area are available for referral as needed for medical complications associated with overweight. The child’s pediatrician or family physician will continue their routine care of the enrolled child and will be apprised of baseline and follow-up measures.

Will my child be given a prescribed diet and exercise plan?

No.  Our primary goal is to help you and your child(ren) to become knowledgeable about nutrition and activity.  We will then help you identify the modifications that work best for you and your family.  We will support and guide you as you learn more about healthy eating and activity habits.  Portion sizes and an awareness of the caloric density of foods are strongly emphasized.  Studies have found that the more food one is served, the more they will eat, independent of their actual starting appetite.

What is screen time and why is it important?

Screen time is the amount of time spent watching TV, playing video games, or on the computer (homework an exception).  The number of hours of screen time is strongly linked weight gain.  Not only are you sedentary when in front of a “screen”, but exposure to the myriad of commercials emphasizing high, empty calorie foods has been linked to promoting increased caloric intake.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time to a maximum of two hours a day.  Limiting screen time is a key strategy to reducing the amount of time spent in sedentary behavior.