To refer a patient to the Healthy Family Program in the Forsyth County area, click here.
If you would like information about how to start a Healthy Family Program in your area, click here.

As a Pediatrician in private practice, I understand the challenges involved in managing adolescent obesity. Time pressures and lack of adequate reimbursement limit our ability to fully address the issue in the clinic setting.

Educating patients and parents about the dangers of obesity and strategies for lifestyle modification is difficult in a 15 or 30 minute office visit. When you include the emotional and cultural pitfalls of initiating such a discussion, obesity is, indeed, one of our greatest management challenges.

When Kirsten Davis and I started Healthy Family in 2002, we wanted to create a program to which medical providers could refer their patients and know that they would receive medically appropriate information and motivation. We have had great success in helping families with this problem.

In the 20th century, remarkable advancements were made in the prevention and management of infectious disease and injuries. As we transition into a century where the habits of the current pediatric cohort promise great impact on our future health as a nation, we cannot underestimate the importance of lifestyle education for our patients and families.

Thank you for your interest in our program. We hope to serve you and your patients in the near future.

Sincerely,                   

Gretchen S. Hoyle, MD