Healthy Living Clinic

We are a family-based program focused on healthy living for youth ages six months to 17 years who are living with high weight for their age. Through a combination of group sessions and individual appointments with team members, we help you and your family make healthy choices that affect nutrition, physical activity, and overall health. Our program uses techniques from treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and family work. These involve learning more about how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are linked, as well as how to improve overall family functioning and increase healthy living practices.

We work with children and youth from our catchment area within the GTA who are living with high weight (relative to height and age) and also meet certain medical criteria. Please talk to your health-care provider about your eligibility.

Our goal

To help you live your best life with your whole family in mind

If the referral is accepted, you will be sent an information package to learn more about the program. Included are the next steps you can follow to be booked for an intake assessment. The average wait time from referral to intake assessment is about nine months.

Programs

6 months to 9 years

Working with parents and caregivers for children ages 6 months to 9 years​

We know from research that working directly with parents and caregivers of younger children is most successful.

Over the two-year program, we offer:​

• Nutrition Group (virtual) on the first Tuesday of each month from 4 to 5 p.m.​
• Individual check-ins with team members every four to six weeks​
• Medical visits every six months

10 to 17 years

Working with teens, parents and caregivers​ ages 10 to 17 years​

​The research tells us that working with the young person along with the help and role modeling of the parents and caregivers results in the greatest success with healthy living.

Over the two-year program, we offer:​

Phase 1: Hybrid​

• Eight-week group education for both teens and parents/caregivers ​(Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m.) OR 2-day in-person workshop on a Friday and Saturday

*Children ages 10 and 11 years do not participate in the groups.​

​Phase 2: Hybrid​

• Individual check-ins with team members every four to six weeks​
• Nutrition group (virtual) on the first Tuesday of each month from 4 to 5:00 p.m.​
• Medical visits every six months​

“I was able to talk about things I usually don’t talk about with others. I really felt successful setting healthy living goals.”

– Patient family testimonial

Preparing for your visit

• Questionnaires: You will be sent a set of questionnaires via email for both caregivers and teens to fill out prior to your appointment. If they are not completed before your appointment, you may be asked to complete them onsite before being seen as they are an important part of the assessment.
• Blood work: When you are booked for your intake assessment, you will be informed about any pre-visit blood work or testing. If fasting blood work is required, you will need to make sure you do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the blood draw.
• Documentation: Please bring a list of any medications you are on as well as any other relevant documentation such as psychoeducational assessments. 
• Self-care items: As visits, especially intake assessments, can be several hours long, we recommend bringing a snack and some water as well as activities to keep younger children entertained.

Directions

Our clinic is located on the 5th floor, Black Wing, which is on the University Avenue side of the hospital. You will spot a ‘Healthy Living Clinic’ sign hanging in the hallway right outside our waiting room and registration desk, located in room 5255. 

At your intake assessment, you will meet with members of our multidisciplinary team over the course of several hours. Team members gather information about you and your family as well as your current health, dietary intake, activity levels, and overall well-being.  After meeting with you, the team will collaborate to create your initial treatment plan. You will receive an electronic letter shortly after your visit summarizing who you met with and the proposed plan of care.

Resources

• To learn more about our program, please review the following information session slide presentation (PDF).
• For recipe and meal ideas, please visit Meant2Prevent: Kitchen 
• For trusted youth-focused resources that promote healthy living and lifestyle habits, please visit the Meant2Prevent Resource Hub
• For ages 5 to 17 years, please visit 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for 5 to 17 years, to learn more about recommendations for physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep. For ages 0 to 4 years, please visit 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for 0 to 4 years 
• Talking about weight with your children is not always easy. The goal of this short video is to help parents and families feel more comfortable and confident when talking about issues related to weight with their children.

For Health-care Providers