Generation Health Referral
The Generation Health Clinic (formerly Shapedown BC) is a family-centred healthy living program for children and youth aged 6 to 17 years who are overweight or living with obesity and have specific health concerns.
Patients need a referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner to access the clinic. Eligible children and youth from 6 to 17 years of age must meet the following criteria:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) for age greater than the 97th percentile, or BMI for age between the 85th and 97th percentiles, and any of the following comorbidities:
- Dyslipidemia
- Insulin resistance/prediabetes/diabetes
- Depression/anxiety
- Obstructive sleep apnea/sleep-disordered breathing
- Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (formerly NAFLD)
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Prehypertension/hypertension
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
Parents, caregivers, and the child or youth must be interested in making healthy lifestyle changes and able to attend all appointments and group sessions. During their initial assessment appointment, we will assess their readiness to participate.
Exclusion criteria
The child or youth must be available to participate in a group program. The program is not appropriate for children or youth facing:
- An active eating disorder
- Acute mental health concerns (e.g. active self-harm/suicidal ideation, mental health crisis)
- Uncontrolled behavioural problems (e.g. aggressive behaviour, flight risk, verbal harassment)
Referral steps
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Assess eligibility
Determine whether the child or youth meets program eligibility criteria.
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Complete the referral form
Fill out the referral form (PDF) or virtual clinic referral form (PDF) completely. We will not process incomplete referrals. Include all the required information.
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Submit the referral
Fax the referral along with all available growth charts, consults, recent blood work, imaging, and diagnostic results to:
- Referrals from Vancouver Coastal Health region: 604-875-238
- Referrals from Island Health region: 236-429-3635
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Review of the referral
After receiving the referral, we make every effort to minimize delays. We book a family’s first appointment close to when the next age-appropriate group program is offered.
In the interim, if you have any concerns about serious complications (e.g. type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea), please initiate the appropriate investigations or referrals while the child or youth patient waits for their assessment appointment with our program team. If the patient’s medical status changes, please send us any updates.
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Appointment with our team
Once we receive your referral, we will send you an acknowledgement letter. Our administrative staff will contact the family directly to book a four-hour appointment with our team.
After the appointment, our interdisciplinary team will prepare a summary of our assessment and recommendations, interim reports as needed, and a discharge report with recommendations for follow-up. We arrange investigations and referrals and collaborate with community providers when indicated.
We typically enrol families in the Generation Health Clinic for six to twelve months. We do not provide long-term or ongoing care beyond this period. After discharge, we welcome re-referral if the child or youth continues to meet eligibility criteria.
We are available for consults as needed. Please call our office to arrange for a consult with one of our doctors.
- Generation Health Clinic (referrals from Vancouver Coastal Health region): 604-875-2345, ext 5984
- Generation Health Clinic - Virtual Program (referrals from Island Health region): 236-833-9673