Who can refer to Generation Health Clinic?
The clinical program is available by referral from a physician or nurse practitioner for children and teens who meet the eligibility criteria.
Eligibility Criteria
Children and teens between 6-17 years of age with:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) for age greater than the 97th percentile, or
- BMI for age between the 85th and 97th percentiles, with any the following comorbidities:
- Dyslipidemia
- Insulin resistance/prediabetes/ diabetes
- Depression/anxiety
- Obstructive sleep apnea/sleep disordered breathing
- Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (formerly NAFLD)
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Prehypertension/hypertension
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
Parents/caregivers and child/teen must be interested in making healthy living changes and be able to attend appointments and group sessions. Readiness to participate will be assessed at the assessment appointment.
Exclusion Criteria
Children/teens must be able to participate in a group program. The program is not appropriate for children/teens with:
- an active eating disorder
- acute mental health concerns (e.g., active self-harm/suicidal ideation, mental health crisis)
- uncontrolled behavioural problems (e.g., aggressive behaviour, flight risk, verbal harassment)
Referral Forms
What to Expect After Referral
For your patients:
Eligible families (parents/caregivers and child/teen) complete the intake process with the Generation Health Clinic team, which includes two to three initial appointments:
- A comprehensive medical, psychosocial, nutrition, and healthy living assessment completed by the interdisciplinary team using standardized, validated tools.
- A family feedback appointment where an individualized family-centred care plan for the child/teen and family is created. This may include referral to appropriate community resources and specialists when indicated and necessary.
When the family is ready to start, they are invited to attend the next age-appropriate 10-week group program. We may offer a family individualized support when it is more appropriate than a group program. This could include:
- Short-term medical nutrition therapy to address related comorbidities
- Short-term mental health support related to factors impacting program participation
Families also attend a follow-up appointment with the team one to two months after program participation.
For referring providers:
To ensure continuity of care for your patients:
- A summary of our assessment and recommendations, interim reports as indicated and a discharge report with recommendations for follow-up
- Arranging investigations and referrals, communication and collaboration with community providers
Team members are available for consultation before, during, and after seeing your patients.
We are not a mental health program. Our mental health professionals provide:
- A targeted mental health assessment to explore factors that can impact treatment care planning and program engagement, such as ADHD, ASD, depression, anxiety, disordered eating behaviours, or significant psychosocial family stressors
- Guidance for further diagnosis, assessment, and treatment to families and referring providers
The goal of our program is to improve the child’s physiological health and well-being. This can be measured in several ways, including:
- improvements in bloodwork, quality of life measures, physical and emotional health measures
- engagement in healthy living behaviours
Changes in growth trajectory may be observed.
