(P31-069-23) Virtual Group Classes: A Strategy To Improve Frequency of Visits in a Pediatric Weight Management Program Providing Intensive Health Behavior and Lifestyle Treatment

Objectives: The Optimal Wellness for Life (OWL) Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital utilizes a family-centered approach to treat pediatric obesity with intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT). Most effective IHBLT programs deliver 26 or more hours of family-based counseling sessions over at least 3 to 12 months for children aged 6 years or older with overweight or obesity. The frequent follow-up schedule can be challenging for families to adhere to, and can exceed the clinic providers’ availability. Our objective was to utilize virtual group classes as a practical, convenient and efficient strategy to increase frequency of registered dietitian (RD) visits in a pediatric weight management program.

Methods: A combination of virtual group nutrition classes replaced individual sessions with an RD for both initial and return visits. Virtual introductory nutrition classes, designed to instruct new patients on main messages of a low glycemic diet, were offered weekly in multiple languages. Virtual “OWL in the Kitchen” (OITK) cooking classes were offered twice a month, serving as a return encounter with an RD. The OITK classes utilized culinary medicine, a new evidence-based field that blends the art of food and cooking with the science of medicine. Patient families were instructed on low glycemic diet principles, wellness tips and mindful eating, and these concepts were then applied to the recipes prepared together in class.

Results: Of 614 new OWL patients seen in 2022, 422 patients attended the introductory virtual group classes, and 156 established patients attended the OITK return patient classes. A team of 4 RDs instructed 51 introductory classes and 16 OITK classes in 2022. Average attendance was 8 patient families per introductory class and 10 patient families per OITK class. Verbal reports of families attending the classes were positive and future surveys will further investigate patient satisfaction.

Conclusions: Virtual group new and return nutrition classes can provide prompt and frequent nutrition visits as part of the IHBLT model to treat pediatric obesity. Providing dietitians with the skills to carry out virtual group classes, including culinary medicine based classes, will improve the ability to meet the intense visit schedule required for effective IHBLT.

Funding Sources: None