Stanford Works On Treating Childhood Obesity

Mike Colgan Reporting

PALO ALTO (KCBS) -- Researchers at Stanford have been selected to develop a new model on how to treat and prevent childhood obesity.

The university is getting a $12.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Doctors at Stanford and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital have been tasked with designing a pediatric weight control program that could be used across the country.

"This is a new seven-year study which will allow us to develop and evaluate a new model for providing community-based treatment for overweight and obese children and their families," said Dr. Thomas Robinson.

Robinson, who works at the Stanford University School of Medicine, is heading the research team. He said traditional medical care isn't doing a good job in addressing childhood obesity.

"As pediatricians, we tend to do a really good job with acute problems," Robinson said. "And also problems that involve specialized medical care. But obesity is a problem that requires a lot of chronic attention over time, lots of frequent visits, often to a professional or to people helping you change your behavior. And support in the community and in your home, where a lot of the action occurs."

A recent study at Stanford found that 25 percent of middle and high school students were either overweight or obese.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)