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   Self-Referral and Provider Referral: This clinic accepts self-referrals and provider referrals. Please see "Referrals" menu for more information.

About the BALANCE Program

The Bringing Active Living and Nutrition into your Childhood Everyday (BALANCE) program is a comprehensive, family centered, interdisciplinary program that provides outpatient intervention and treatment to Northeastern Ontario children and adolescents living with overweight and obesity.

Our Approach to Care

The BALANCE program adopts a Health at Every Size (HAES) approach. Instead of focusing on weight loss, the HAES approach focuses on weight neutral outcomes. Our society’s preoccupation with weight loss and dieting have led to preoccupation with food, distorted body image, reduced self-esteem, eating disorders, weight stigmatization and discrimination. Therefore, rather than focusing on weight changes, the BALANCE program supports families as they make health choices in the area of physical activity, screen and sedentary time, sleep, emotion regulation and eating habits.

The HAES approach has been associated with statistically and clinically relevant improvements in blood pressure and blood lipids.  It has also been shown to improve sustained health behaviours such as eating habits and activity levels as well as improved psychological outcomes such as self-esteem and body image.

The program includes mental health support for the change process, nutritional education and support, health education and medical support as well as organized physical activity sessions. Our team includes a Dietitian, Kinesiologist, Social Worker, Nurse Practitioner and consulting Pediatrician.

 

Anyone can refer someone to the Balance Program - a physician, nurse practitioner, teacher, parent, grandparent, etc. 

Eligibility criteria

  • 2-18 years of age
  • BMI equal to or over 85th percentile and/or diagnosis of fatty liver and/or hyperlipidemia

Please have the child’s height and weight ready to check their percentile for their eligibility.
 

 Self-Referrals

Families, guardians, and caregivers can self-refer for this service.
Access our online Self-Referral Form.
 

 Provider Referrals

Healthcare providers can find our NEO Kids & Family Central Intake eReferral Form on the Ocean Healthmap.

For assistance, please call NEO Navigation, central intake team at 705-523-7120.

 

 

 
Contact Us
Address

Health Sciences North
Ramsey Lake Health Centre
41 Ramsey Lake Road
Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 5J1

Phone: 705-523-7120 ext 3508 or 3545

Email: neokidsinfo@hsnsudbury.ca