Lifestyle Assessment

Gathering a detailed lifestyle history during visits can help obtain the information needed for a thorough assessment. 

Upon completing the lifestyle history, providers should identify areas of the greatest concern and use the strategies outlined on this website to address them. 

Here are the lifestyle areas providers should cover for various age groups.

For infants age newborn to age 2, review the following factors: 

• Family history/prenatal factors. 
• Feeding practices: Duration of breastfeeding, the timing of meals, introduction of solids, maternal responsiveness to feeding cues. 
• Routine: Sleep duration, naps, amount of screen time, amount of consumed juice. 

For toddlers ages 2 to 4, review: 

• Family history/prenatal factors 
• Feeding practices: Diet diversity, use of food as rewards, response to hunger satiety. 
• Activity level: How much time per day spent in active play, types of structured activities, amount of screen time. 
• Sleep: Frequency of naps, duration of sleep, presence of snoring. 

For early childhood, ages 5 to 9, review: 

• Family routine and dynamics: Parental interactions, sibling interactions, approach to lifestyle as a family versus for individual child. 
• Feeding practices: “2B’s 2F’s"—Breakfast, sugary Beverages, Fruits/vegetables, and Frequency of eating out. 
• Activity: Concept of “SSOB,” which stands for Structured activity, Sedentary time, Outdoor access/play, Barriers to activity. 
• Sleep: Regularity of sleep/wake cycle, presence of snoring, risk of daytime sleepiness. 
• Behavioral health: Presence of behavioral concerns, attention or mood issues, peer interactions.

For pre-adolescents, ages 10 to 14, review: 

• Family routine and dynamics: Parental interactions, sibling interactions, approach to lifestyle as a family versus for individual child 
• Feeding practices: "2B's 2F's” and school meal routine
• Activity: “SSOB.” 
• Sleep: Regularity of sleep/wake cycle, presence of snoring, risk of daytime sleepiness. 
• Behavioral health: Presence of behavioral concerns, attention or mood issues, peer interactions.

For adolescents, age 15 to 18, review the following lifestyle factors in addition to routine HEADSS assessments: 

• Family routine and dynamics: Parental interactions, sibling interactions, approach to lifestyle as a family versus for individual child. 
• Autonomy level in food choices within the household.
• Diet: “2Bs 2Fs,” frequency of skipped meals, school meal routine. 
• Activity: “SSOB” and after school activities.
• Behavioral health: Presence of behavioral concerns, attention or mood issues, peer interactions.