We will test whether 1) pediatrician-patient communication regarding overweight status, behavior/risk-factor counseling, and the frequency and time to next follow-up visit, compared with either no communication or incomplete communication (communicating only high weight status without behavior/risk-factor counseling or a follow-up visit) will predict improvement in weight status at one year follow-up, and 2) during pediatrician-patient communication regarding weight and weight management, higher patient-centeredness will predict improvement in weight status at one year follow-up. The communication content identified will generate new information about the most effective content and style of pediatrician-patient communication that predict weight-status improvement. Because we prospectively will examine clinical practice elements in the one-year interval between well-child visits, acknowledging that communication regarding high weight status may initiate assessment of risk factors for heart disease (such as high cholesterol and blood sugar), more frequent follow-up visits, or prompt a nutrition referral, we will generate novel information about the most effective clinical practices and follow-up interval and frequency that predict weight-status improvement in overweight children. We also will examine if the content and style of communication are related to improvements in diet and lifestyle behaviors at one-year follow-up.
