Overview

Overview

The Be Well Kids Clinic takes a family-centered approach to helping children who have overweight or obesity improve their overall health and well-being. You can count on our experienced team to guide your child (and you) as they manage related health conditions that can accompany these complicated diseases. You’ll learn ways to help your child set, achieve and maintain realistic weight goals — and move your family toward better wellness today and down the road.

What We Treat

What We Treat

The Be Well Kids Clinic team is comprised of expert healthcare professionals dedicated to assisting children with childhood obesity and associated issues, including:

Programs

Programs

Childhood obesity and weight problems are increasing at alarming rates and it is no different in the Northeast Ohio area. The Be Well Kids Clinic uniquely targets children and adolescents who have overweight or obesity. Our team provides compassionate care and support. Our family-centered approach strives to create life-long healthy weight.

Who is eligible?

The Be Well Kids Clinic accepts children who meet the following criteria:

  • 6 to 18 years of age (ages may vary by location)
  • Body mass index (BMI) greater than the 95th percentile (determine BMI percentile)
  • Is motivated, along with their family, to make continuous lifestyle changes

Medicaid and many commercial insurance plans cover care at the Be Well Kids Clinic. We recommend checking with your insurance provider to confirm coverage before your child’s initial evaluation. If your child needs lab tests, you may receive separate billing based on any medical conditions identified during the visit.

What to expect

Before the initial visit, we ask parents to complete a questionnaire and a medical history. During the visit, a provider will complete a physical exam, review health history, order lab work to identify health problems and develop manageable goals with you and your child.

You will meet individually with members of our Be Well Kids Clinic team, including:

  • Physicians and nurse practitioners to address your child’s medical needs. Our providers have expertise in obesity medicine, endocrinology, cardiology, and sleep disorders.
  • Pediatric dietitians to provide education about healthy meal planning and portion control.
  • Pediatric physical therapists to assess your child’s current fitness level and help them enjoy safe and physical activity.
  • Pediatric behavioral health specialists to help you and your child address motivation, barriers to success and other psychosocial factors, and to provide mental health service referrals, as needed.

Follow-up visits are the key to Be Well Kids Clinic success. We recommend that your child follow up with their provider every one to three months, depending on their needs. For adolescents prescribed weight loss medications, follow-up every one to three months is required to monitor for side effects.

Adolescent Bariatric Surgery

For some teenagers, a comprehensive lifestyle program is not enough.  Teenagers with severely elevated body mass index, and serious medical complications, may qualify for weight loss surgery.  This is a procedure that can have benefits but has risks a family needs to consider. 

Resources

Resources

Our team of experts has compiled a list of resources that may help your child and family as you journey down the path to weight loss together.

Lifestyle programs and more

Recipes

Appointments & Locations

Appointments & Locations

Be Well Kids Clinic Locations

Pediatric specialists in obesity medicine, endocrinology, cardiology, lipid management and sleep medicine lead our Be Well Kids Clinic program at three locations:

R Building - Cleveland Clinic Children's Outpatient Center
8950 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44106

Fairview Medical Office Building
18099 Lorain Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44111

Hillcrest Medical Office Building II
6801 Mayfield Rd., Second Floor
Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need to wear anything special for their evaluation and follow-up visits?

Yes. Every Be Well Kids Clinic visit includes physical activity and time with one of our physical therapists. We recommend your child wear comfortable clothing and supportive shoes that make it easy to move. Good options include leggings, athletic shorts or pants, T-shirts and sneakers or running shoes. To help your child get the most out of their sessions, avoid clothing that restricts movement, like:

  • Jeans or other tight clothing
  • Open-toe shoes
  • Sandals
  • Crocs
  • Flip-flops
  • Slippers
  • Ugg®-style boots

How long are appointments and what are they like?

The first visit — called an initial evaluation — can last up to four hours. During that time, you and your child will meet with four healthcare providers, each for about 30 to 60 minutes. You’ll stay in the same exam room, and the providers will rotate in — no need to move around the clinic.

Because your child’s evaluation is long, we recommend bringing water and a snack.

Follow-up visits are shorter. They typically last between 90 minutes and three hours, depending on your child’s needs. Each provider will usually spend about 10 to 45 minutes with your child.

If needed, we’re happy to provide excuse notes for work and school.

How will I be billed for my child’s visit?

Medicare and most commercial insurance plans cover care at Be Well Kids Clinic. You’ll be asked to pay any co-pay during online check-in or when you arrive for your child’s visit.

In addition to meeting with a doctor or nurse practitioner, your child will also see a dietitian, physical therapist and behavioral health specialist — and each provider bills separately for their services.

Does the Be Well Clinic prescribe anti-obesity medicines?

Yes, for adolescents who are having trouble achieving healthier weight goals using healthy lifestyle changes alone, oral and injected medicines may be prescribed. Medicines are a tool and not a cure and all patients prescribed medicines must have a follow-up visit at least every 3 months in the Be Well Clinic. Not all insurance plans cover these medicines.