READ TRANSCRIPT: Chat with CHOP About Kids' Healthy Weight

Below is the transcript from an online chat with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia held Wednesday June 29th, 2016:

The Healthy Weight Program advances the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity by integrating excellence in clinical care, research, quality education and community advocacy.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) gathered 48 internal experts and advisors, from disciplines and divisions Hospital-wide, to develop a multidisciplinary, comprehensive and innovative program targeting pediatric obesity. Learn more about the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Healthy Weight Programs. Or call: 267-426-2782.

The Healthy Weight Program helps improve the health and quality of life of children with excess weight, ages 2 to 18 years, by working with families to make healthy lifestyle changes. The multi-disciplinary team assess weight-related medical issues and help children manage their weight through a family-based approach that is customized for each child and each family.

The Healthy Weight Clinic has an on-site fitness facility and teaching kitchen. The facilities provide a space for healthy cooking demonstrations, practice of new skills, and individual and group physical activity sessions.

Meet the panel for this chat!

Christine Giovinazzo Christine Giovinazzo is a physical activity specialist in the Healthy Weight Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Christine received her undergraduate degree from Ithaca College in New York. Her clinical interest is childhood obesity prevention and management.

Saba Khan, M.D. is the medical director of the Healthy Weight Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Khan completed her medical degree at King's College London School of Medicine. She completed her internship at the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Mayday University Hospital (London, UK) and King's College Hospital in London. She completed her residency and fellowship at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Khan's research and clinic interests are in relationship between disparities, specifically food insecurity and obesity. She has published material in peer reviewed journals and is a member of The Obesity Society.

Karen Wohlheiter, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Wohlheiter works with children and families in the Healthy Weight Program at CHOP. She completed her doctorate in psychology at the University of Maryland - Baltimore County. Dr. Wohlheiter completed a pre-doctoral and post-doctoral internship in pediatric psychology at the A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Delaware. She has specialized training in pediatric psychology and working with children with chronic illness. This includes training in group lifestyle programs, motivational interviewing with adolescents and working with children with developmental disorders. Dr. Wohlheiter has published research in peer reviewed journals and lectures at society meetings across the U.S.

Elizabeth Coover, RD, CSP, LDN is a registered dietitian at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She works with children and families at the Healthy Weight Program at CHOP. Elizabeth completed her undergraduate degree in dietetics at the University of Delaware and completed a dietetic internship at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She is Board Certified as a Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition. Her clinical interests are nutrition and childhood obesity.

Rachel Lenhoff RD, LDN is a Clinical Dietitian at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She completed her undergraduate degree in nutritional sciences at The Pennsylvania State University and completed her dietetic internship with a pediatric emphasis through Sodexo at Westchester Medical Center in Valhala New York. She is currently pursuing her master's of science in health education at Arcadia University. Rachel's interests include pediatric weight management, public health and obesity prevention.

Amanda Holdridge, CRNP, MSN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for the Healthy Weight Program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Amanda completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing at The University of Delaware. She has been a Pediatric Nurse for 18 years and has been part of the Healthy Weight Program since 2008. Amanda has published in a peer reviewed journal, written a book chapter in pediatric urology, and continues to lecture throughout the Philadelphia region. Her clinical interest and passion includes working with families and children with a chronic illness such as pediatric obesity to attain a healthy life style.