MIT Pediatrics team participates in study | Sign up for summer wellness classes | Lucy to relocate, change work schedule

MIT Pediatrics team participates in study of childhood obesity

MIT Medical Pediatrics chief Jocelyn Joseph, M.D., M.P.H., and nurse practitioner Pat Bartels, A.P.R.N., B.C., F.N.P.-C, have successfully applied to be part of a collaborative study on childhood obesity with other Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) sites. The study will focus on preventing overweight, identifying risk factors, and initiating treatment. The MIT Medical team will also include clinical assistant Phyllis Jordan-Gill and at least one parent.

BCBS will be using a format for patient education called "5-2-1," meaning at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, less than two hours of screen time (which includes computer time as well as TV or computer games), and at least one hour of active play daily.

Over the next few years, Pediatrics will be working on data collection and initiating treatment plans and preventative services. MIT Medical's participation will help BCBS determine effective interventions, with the possible result that more services for dealing with the risk of overweight in children will become covered benefits.

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Lucy to relocate, change work schedule

"Ask Lucy," health@mit's popular health-advice column, is planning a move to a new home on the MIT Medical website. Along with the move, Lucy will be assuming a new work schedule, with plans to answer a new question every month, as opposed to answering two or three new questions a few times a year in conjunction with new issues of health@mit. This will allow her to answer more questions, and in a more timely manner.

Look for Lucy's first appearance on the MIT Medical website later this summer. And even though Lucy doesn't live here anymore, you can still use the online form within each issue of health@mit to submit a question online and, if you wish, anonymously.

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