Feature|Articles|March 20, 2026

5 Things to Know About Pediatric Health Coaching and the Obesity Care Gap

Pediatric health coaching offers a workforce-driven solution to provide support that traditional care models often lack, with the potential to improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs.

Childhood obesity and related metabolic conditions continue to rise in the US, yet many families lack access to sustained, effective support.¹ Thea Runyan, DrPH, MPH, NBC-HWC, cofounder and CEO of the Pediatric Health Coach Academy (PHCA), and Arielle Levi, PhD, NBC-HWC, PCC, chief science officer and cofounder of the PHCA, share expert perspectives, suggesting that pediatric health coaching may help close a critical gap between clinical recommendations and real-world behavior change, in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®).