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Dr. Ronna Schneider, Suburban Pediatric Associates jumped at the opportunity to help pilot. “Our families love it. Just having one more person they can sit down with [is huge],” Bolling says. “You can read about this stuff in a book, but it’s nice to troubleshoot with somebody who’s an expert. Someone with real-world experience. And it helps the pro-
viders. Rather than having a 15-20 minute well[ness] visit, you can do a deep dive into some of the bigger challenges of parenting. It’s become a vital part of what we do.” Childhood obesity is another area of focus. In the U.S., about 13.7 million children and adolescents, aged 2-19 years, are obese. And “what’s really distressing,” Bolling says, “is that severe obesity is on the uptick.” Children with obesity are more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and breathing problems, such as asthma and sleep apnea. Childhood obesity is related to psychological problems like anxiety and depression, low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life. All providers at Pediatric Associates— there are 14 doctors, Bolling says, and four nurse practitioners—are versed in obesity prevention and treatment, but having a dietician adds another layer. That person can also aid with food allergies, sports nutrition, eating disorders and more. Pediatric Associates added that service in 2017. But it’s only in the last year that it’s
offered psychology services, too. Bolling says those offerings will only continue to expand. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 5 children have a diagnosable mental health illness. Most, about 80 percent, are not identified, and therefore, not treated. “It’s something we know is not going away,” Bolling says. “Kids live under different stressors. Social media and the screen stuff has a big impact. Before, I think kids could kind of leave school behind, and now they’re so tethered. There’s no escape. It can be a great source of connectedness in some ways, and we try to have families create a media use plan, but for kids, it’s about keeping them non-exposed as long as possible.” The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends only two hours a day for TV/ electronics, Schneider says. But an hour, at most, is plenty, she says. Mental health is at the forefront at Suburban these days, too, and pediatricians seem to bear more responsibility. “Pediatricians are at the forefront, because we see these patients at least
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