The MIPLAN virtual program is structured as follows: In week 1, participants will meet with a MIPLAN pediatrician to learn about the program. During their follow-up visit with the pediatrician in week 2, they will review their laboratory results and decide whether to participate in the program. Those who choose to join will be scheduled for appointments with the multidisciplinary MIPLAN team and receive access to the MIPLAN website, which offers activities and resources designed to reinforce the content covered in the program sessions.

This six-month clinical program includes virtual parent/patient dyad visits with a pediatrician, dietitian, behavioral social worker, and exercise specialist, as well as weekly lifestyle group visits and group exercise classes, all via Zoom. Additionally, adolescents will have blood tests at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks as part of evidence-based care.

The MIPLAN program accepts referrals from primary care physicians. To join the program, patients must:

• Be currently under the care of the University of Michigan General Pediatrics Division
• Be 13 to 17 years old
• Have a body mass index (BMI) greater than the 95th percentile for their age and sex

The MIPLAN virtual program offers a range of supportive services to help you manage weight, including individualized medical care, nutritional counseling, and group-based lifestyle programs.

• Visits with physicians: Meet with experienced physicians who provide evaluation, diagnosis, and personalized care for concerns related to excess weight. These appointments may include treatment discussions and ongoing management of your weight-related needs.
• Visits with registered dietitian: Consult one-on-one with a registered dietitian for expert guidance on nutrition, meal planning, and dietary strategies tailored to support your goals related to excess weight.
• Lifestyle change group sessions: Participate in group sessions focused on promoting healthy lifestyle changes to address excess weight. These sessions offer education, support, and practical strategies to help you improve your habits related to nutrition, physical activity, and overall well-being.
   

A referral from your child’s primary care provider is required to join the MIPLAN virtual program. Once the call center receives the referral, if your child is eligible, they contact you to schedule the first appointment.

At your first appointment with the MIPLAN physician, they will obtain a complete assessment related to your child’s weight-related medical history. This is to help identify any contributors to your child’s weight and to inform decisions about additional laboratory tests. Providers will discuss possible treatment options and work with families to determine an optimal treatment plan.

The MIPLAN program is available virtually for participants' convenience. All visits are delivered via Zoom. 
 

Patients may choose to participate in a study being conducted to determine whether offering the MIPLAN program virtually, rather than in person, is acceptable and feasible for parents and teens. The research will evaluate participants’ engagement with the program, their adherence to treatment recommendations, and any changes in weight, lab test results, and body composition (i.e., percent body fat). These assessments will be facilitated by using wearable devices (similar to a Fitbit tracker to measure activity levels), a Bluetooth-enabled scale (to measure weight and body composition), and apps to convey these data to the study team. In addition, the study involves the use of an interactive mobile app that will provide motivational messages to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.