Keeping fit isn’t just for adults.
A new fitness challenge for youngsters focuses on getting children in the Cayman Islands interested in their own health and wellbeing.
A couple of events this month, which is Heart Health Month, are specifically aimed at improving children’s health.
Activity zone
There will be an activity zone for kids at the Cayman Heart Funds 6th annual Heart Health Fair on Saturday, 16 March, at the Arts and Recreation Centre in Camana Bay. Admission is free and the aim is to give children and teens a chance to try different activities that are available to them in Cayman, in the hope that they may find an activity they enjoy that they may stick to on a regular basis, said Dr. Christine Chen, a paediatrician with The Children’s Clinic Cayman.
Prizes will be awarded for participating and children will also each receive free screening to assess their weight, as well as nutritional counselling.
Fitness challenge
At the activity zones, kids ages 11 to 18 can sign up for a 12-week fitness challenge.
Dr. Chen, fitness instructor Carla Lee Sing and dietitian Kristin Lomas are organising the KYSTAR Athletics Get Active Challenge 2013, which begins Saturday, 30 March and runs for 12 weeks till 29 June.
Dr. Chen said that 15 overweight or obese high school students will be chosen to participate.
“They will receive nutritional counselling and be shown exercises they can do on their own. They will receive free medical screening to ensure that they are healthy enough to participate and they will also be provided with a gym bag containing workout gear and a diet and fitness journal to log their daily progress,” Dr. Chen said.
The participants will meet each Saturday at World Gym for training with Ms Sing, and for motivational talks and nutritional counselling, including portion sizes and reading food labels, with Ms Lomas.
There will also be fun outings, such as cooking lessons with chef Sara Mair from Ortanique, Crossfit Bootcamp on Seven Mile Beach and paddleboarding with Cayman Standup Paddle Co. have also been organised.
“We hope that at the end of the challenge, each participant will be armed with the knowledge to make healthier food choices and the motivation to continue exercising on a regular basis and that they may positively influence their family and friends,” Dr. Chen said.
Prizes, which include phones, iPods, headphones and a trip to Miami on Cayman Airways, will be awarded for attendance, enthusiasm, commitment and results.
“As a paediatrician, I am trying to encourage healthier eating habits and regular physical exercise in the entire family as we strive to keep Cayman healthy,” Dr. Chen said.
For more information, e-mail [email protected] or phone The Children’s Clinic Cayman at 949-2970.
At the activity zones, kids ages 11 to 18 can sign up for a 12-week fitness challenge.
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