Many factors may contribute to obesity in children, including genetics, diet, environment — even emotional factors. True hormonal or genetic causes are rare, however. Our clinic provides evaluation and management of children and their families with a focus on making healthy changes in diet and activity for the whole family using principles of successful behavior change approaches.

Appointments
The initial new patient appointment is about 3 hours and includes an evaluation with a physician/nurse practitioner, physical therapist/exercise specialist, and a dietitian. We are currently seeing patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

If you are a parent or guardian:  

• Contact your child's primary care provider (PCP) and request they complete the referral process.
• Once your child's PCP has referred your child, call (615) 936-5326 to schedule an appointment.

If you are a referring provider:

• Visit our referral process page to refer your patient.
• For more information about how we evaluate obese children, as well as the various programs at Children's Hospital that can assist you at any stage of the evaluation or treatment process, please see our Obesity Resources page.

Patients eligible for these services:

• Children between the ages of 2 and 17
• Body Mass Index (BMI) > 95%
• Body Mass Index (BMI) > 85% and < 95% with additional conditions like high blood pressure. 

Unfortunately, obesity is still not recognized as a true medical condition by many insurance companies and we strongly recommend families check with their insurance company regarding coverage details of our services, as occasionally these services are not covered. We may also perform fasting blood work at the intial visit. Alternatively this may be performed by the child's referring medical provider or PCP which may also reduce out of pocket costs.

Continuity of Care
We see patients on the 8th floor of Doctors' Office Tower. 

Return patients ages eight and older can be seen at the Vanderbilt Dayani Center for Health and Wellness. This is a medically-based fitness center located across the street from the Children's Hospital. Return patients see the medical provider and dietitian for an abbreviated visit as well as an exercise specialist. Parents and patients have the opportunity to use the indoor track and fitness area during their visit. We are excited about the opportunity to take you (and our office) to the gym!

For more information about this clinic or other General Pediatrics Referral Clinics, view our Referral Clinic Brochure.

Learn more about our efforts to reverse the trend in childhood obesity in Tennessee in Vanderbilt Magazine, which includes an interview with Greg Plemmons, M.D.