Family-Based Weight Wellness Treatment Through Food is Medicine and Group Medical Visits in Pediatric and Adult Primary Care

Summary

The proposed project aims to implement and evaluate a novel, family-based lifestyle medicine intervention integrating group Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) for parents and adolescents with a twelve-month medically tailored groceries (MTG) and six-month culinary medicine Food is Medicine program. The intervention provides adolescent weight wellness treatment through a holistic, community engaged approach leveraging family connection, clinical care, and nutrition support. Monthly SMAs will include time for parents and adolescents to meet independently and conclude together. These visits will be co-led by physicians, dietitians, and health professionals. Parents will receive the Ardmore Institute's Full Plate Living program while adolescents receive Tufts Pediatrics Strong, Positive and Resilient Kids (SPARK) Weight Wellness program. The SMA format is reimbursable, fosters peer support, enhances patient-provider interaction, and allows efficient delivery of education and care. Each session will include nutrition and lifestyle education, review of individualized weight care plans, and proactive goal setting tailored to adults, adolescents, and families.

Conditions

• Obesity & Overweight
• Weight Management

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Culinary medicine classes

Culinary Education - Kids Test Kitchen: In Cohort 2, as part of the SMA, families will participate in six cooking classes. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on cooking, nutrition literacy, and family engagement.

BEHAVIORAL

Medically Tailored Groceries

Medically Tailored Groceries (MTG): In Cohorts 2 and 3 families receive twelve months of MTG at $250 USD per month. Groceries are customized to clinical goals such as weight management, blood pressure control, and glycemic regulation.

BEHAVIORAL

Shared Medical Appointments

Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs): Families will attend monthly 60-90-minute group visits. The SMAs will include separate parent and adolescent classes, followed by joint activities. Parent sessions will be led by Dr. Kane using the Ardmore Full Plate Living curriculum. Adolescent sessions will be led by Drs. Mauney and Bushard using the SPARK Wellness Program. Each SMA will integrate nutrition education, behavioral health support, and goal setting tailored to the patient and family needs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tufts Medical Center

  collaborator OTHER

• Tufts University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-02-05

Primary Completion

2027-12-31

Completion

2027-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations