Pediatric Weight-Management Program is Now Connected with Seven Locations
Brenner FIT, the Brenner Children’s Hospital program that takes a family-centered approach to treating children with obesity, has extended its electronic reach to Wilkes County.
A secure video link between Brenner Children’s, part of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and the Wilkes County Health Department in Wilkesboro allows patients and families members to have some of their Brenner FIT sessions without having to travel to the hospital in Winston-Salem.
“This site is open to all families in Wilkes and the surrounding counties who could benefit from a location for treatment that’s close to home,” said Joseph Skelton, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Wake Forest Baptist and director of Brenner FIT. “We’re grateful to the Wilkes County Health Department for providing the space that will let people in those communities communicate directly with our experts via webcam.”
The Wilkesboro location is the seventh to have a Brenner TeleFIT connection. The network’s other links are to sites in Boone, Dobson, Elkin, Greensboro, Hickory and Lenoir. A grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission helped support the network’s expansion to Wilkes County.
Brenner FIT is one of the most comprehensive weight-management programs in the country for children ages 2 to 18. It does not employ restrictive diets, medications or harsh exercise, focusing instead on changes in family habits and attitudes, improved nutrition and increased physical activity.
The program includes clinic visits, classes, coaching and training sessions and consultations with the Brenner FIT team of physicians, behavioral counselors, dietitians, physical therapists, social workers and exercise specialists.
For information about Brenner FIT, email brennerfit@wakehealth.edu or call 336-713-2348.
Media Relations
Mac Ingraham: mingraha@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-3487
Eryn Johnson: eryjohns@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-8228