This module is a culmination of our hard work and dedication to improve follow up rates and treatment success for childhood obesity. We have paid special attention to designing a program that lowers BMI (Body Mass Index), decreases diabetes risk, and improves blood pressure while avoiding awkward discussions about body size.

By demonizing SODA corporations, we create a villain for the youth to rebel against. This strategy immediately shifts attention away from body image and away from self esteem crushing labels like “obesity” … AND instead fosters the feeling of a unified boycott against greedy corporations who exploit our communities and target us with their unhealthy products.

SODATRON is the robotic tentacled BIGSODA villain who is aggressively selling us a drink known to increase rates of diabetes, tooth decay, and obesity. As an act of defiance against these corporations, our pediatric patients refuse to drink soda and sugary drinks AND instead choose water.

How it works:

1) The patient sees the DEFEAT SODATRON poster hanging on the wall of the exam room. We ask if they would like to take the DEFEAT SODATRON challenge to win a poster by giving up soda and sugary drinks for one month. To claim their poster reward and have a chance to go on our DEFEAT SODATRON Youtube channel, the patient follows up at one month. If they agree to the challenge, we give them a DEFEAT SODATRON coloring page as a thank you for agreeing to take the challenge.

2) At the one month follow up we record a new BMI and recheck their blood pressure. If they have succeeded in the challenge they are awarded the poster and offered a chance to record a video to be uploaded on our DEFEAT SODATRON Youtube channel. If the parent and patient agree to the Youtube channel, the parent signs a media consent and we shoot a short video of the proud child. We immediately upload the video to Youtube so the patient can see themselves on the channel when they return home. Prior to leaving the appointment, we offer to continue the challenge for another 2 months and add a new challenge to eliminate sugary snacks. The patient is incentivized to return in 2 months to claim the next prize, the DEFEAT SODATRON triple pack of stickers.

Dr. Kevin Strong celebrates with a proud, soda free patient.

Video of Dr. Kevin Strong and a proud, soda free patient from the DEFEAT SODATRON Youtube channel.

3) At the 3 month followup, we again chart BMI and blood pressure. The child is rewarded with the sticker pack and challenged to return again in 3 months for a 6 month followup at which time they will win the DEFEAT SODATRON comic. We add to the challenge, adjusting their breakfast to focus on healthy proteins and fats instead of a breakfast loaded with sugar like muffins, pancakes, sugary cereal, juice, and chocolate milk.

4) At the 6 month visit, the BMI and blood pressure are again recorded and the patient is rewarded with the DEFEAT SODATRON comic. Next, they are invited to complete the one year nutrition intervention with a follow up in 6 months. The award at the one year visit is the coveted DEFEAT SODATRON T-shirt. At this visit we offer advise on shifting the overall diet away from carbohydrates and towards the consumption of healthy proteins and fats. For some of our motivated patients and families we have a discussion about a trial of the ketogenic diet, particularly if they have acanthosis nigricans, pre diabetes, type 2 diabetes, persistent elevated blood pressure, or if they are interested in more sustained and dramatic weight loss.

Draft version of the DEFEAT SODATRON comic cover.

Dr. Kevin Strong celebrates with a proud patient who has one year soda free.

In our pediatric clinics the DEFEAT SODATRON module has successfully reversed uptrending BMI’s on hundreds of pediatric patients. The module has also had a dramatic effect on blood pressure as many of our hypertensive youth have seen a normalization of their blood pressure. Thirdly, we have staved off the insidious march towards type 2 diabetes for many of our patients. Perhaps most importantly, we have avoided the emotional scars that can arise from weight or body image stigmatization, AND instead have empowered youth to battle back against corporations who aggressively target them with their harmful products.

EMPOWER YOUTH WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT SODA AND SUGARY DRINKS and they will choose health, water, life over a path to sugar fueled chronic disease.

DEFEAT SODATRON

Interested in bringing Operation: DEFEAT SODATRON to your community …

contact Dr. Kevin Strong at defeatsodatron@gmail.com