At Children’s Wisconsin, we help kids and teens build healthy habits that last.

We focus on healthy habits, including:

• Eating regular meals
• Choosing nutritious foods
• Getting active every day
• Limiting screen time

Two programs at Children’s Wisconsin focus on healthy eating, movement and supporting each child’s overall well-being. They are part of a step-by-step approach.

Many kids start in the NEW Kids Program. If they need more advanced care for a related health problem, they may enter the Lifestyle Medicine Collaborative Clinic.

The NEW Kids Program helps kids and families build healthier routines. Nurse practitioners and dietitians create a care plan based on your child’s needs and your family’s goals.

This program helps kids ages 2 to 18 who have concerns related to their weight, which may include a high body mass index (BMI) and related health issues. This might be high blood pressure, high cholesterol or rising liver enzymes. Your primary care provider can refer your child to NEW Kids if they meet these criteria.

Our team works closely with families to set goals that feel realistic and manageable.

We focus on:

• Eating regular meals together
• Limiting sugary drinks
• Getting at least one hour of activity each day
• Reducing screen time
• Supporting better sleep and energy levels

The Lifestyle Medicine Collaborative Clinic helps kids and teens with weight-related health issues. This includes kids with fatty liver disease, pre-diabetes or high cholesterol.

Your child will see a team of doctors. Together, they’ll create a plan to support healthy change and treat their health issues.

We care for children with:

• Fatty liver disease: Too much fat in the liver, which can cause damage over time
• Weight concern (Obesity): A BMI at or above the 95th percentile
• Pre-diabetes: Higher-than-normal blood sugar, but not yet diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes: Ongoing high blood sugar confirmed by blood tests
• Heart risks: High cholesterol or triglycerides that raise your risk for heart disease

Our team knows how hard it can be to make changes, especially when a child is dealing with a chronic condition. We’ll give you the guidance and support you need to help your child move toward better health — one step at a time.

Both the NEW Kids™ Program and the Lifestyle Medicine Collaborative Clinic help kids build healthier habits and manage weight-related health concerns. These programs focus on improving nutrition, physical activity and long-term wellness. Your child’s care plan will depend on their health needs, age and goals.

Who Qualifies for the NEW Kids Program?

Children ages 2 to 18 may qualify if they have a BMI above the 85th percentile and a related health concern. These may include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated liver enzymes or other abnormal lab results. Your child’s doctor will decide if this program is the right fit and can fill out the referral form.

Who Qualifies for the Lifestyle Medicine Collaborative Clinic?

This clinic supports kids who need more advanced medical care. Some kids who qualify for the NEW Kids Program get a weight-related health diagnosis. These kids qualify for more specialized care at the Lifestyle Medicine Collaborative Clinic.

How Do We Get Started with NEW Kids?

NEW Kids requires a referral from your child’s doctor. They can use the NEW Kids referral form to get the process started. Once we receive it, we will contact your family to plan the first visit.

Download the NEW Kids referral form >>>

At Children’s Wisconsin, we help kids and teens build healthy habits and manage weight-related health problems. Our two programs work together to give each child the right level of care.

The NEW Kids Program supports families as they start making lifestyle changes. The Lifestyle Medicine Collaborative Clinic offers extra support for health issues.

Before Your First Visit

Most families start with the NEW Kids Program. At your first visit, a nurse practitioner and dietitian will check your child’s height, weight and BMI. They will ask about eating habits, screen time, activity levels and sleep. They will also review your child’s lab results and talk about your family’s goals.

We may suggest more tests, such as:

• Blood tests to check cholesterol, high blood sugar and liver health. These help us learn about your child’s risk for diabetes, fatty liver disease and heart issues.
• A liver test called FibroScan. This painless test checks for fat or scarring in the liver.
• Imaging, including an ultrasound, to look for liver damage.

If test results show a more serious health issue, your child may also see our team in the Lifestyle Medicine Collaborative Clinic. That team includes doctors who treat the liver, heart, hormones and digestive system. These experts work together to make one care plan for your child. They meet monthly to talk about each case and follow up as needed.

During Treatment

Your child will follow a care plan that fits their health needs and your family’s goals. The NEW Kids Program includes about five visits, usually every four to six weeks. These visits focus on building healthy routines for eating, moving and feeling better. Your child will keep seeing the nurse and dietitian to track progress and set new goals.

If your child needs more support, they may also visit the Lifestyle Medicine Collaborative Clinic. There, your family may get:

• A physical activity plan
• Nutrition counseling
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Medicine (for kids age 12 and older)
• Referral to our Metabolic Bariatric Surgery team to see if a surgery may be needed

The goal is not always weight loss. Your child is still growing. We want to improve health, energy, sleep and lab results while building habits that last.

After Treatment

Most families in the NEW Kids Program finish five visits, but your plan may change based on how things go. If your child needs more time or support, we’ll adjust the schedule.

Kids who get care in the Lifestyle Medicine Collaborative Clinic may continue longer. Our team will check labs, adjust treatment and help manage long-term health issues. Some kids stay in the program for several years, depending on their health needs.

We are here to help your child grow in a healthy way and build habits for life. You won’t do it alone — our team will guide you every step of the way.