Inspiring kids to cultivate healthy habits from an early age can help prevent future health problems.
To that end, and to get youngsters excited about health and wellness, a 12-week fitness challenge for teens called “Get Active” begins in May.
The program focuses on teaching young people how to make healthy food choices and to show them that getting active can be fun.
“Obesity is not just an issue worldwide, but also in the Cayman Islands,” said local pediatrician Dr. Christine Chen. “About 38 percent of our younger kids and teenagers have been found to be in the unhealthy weight range.”
She said obesity not only has an impact on kids’ self-esteem, but can also lead to diabetes and hypertension.
“The most significant long-term impact of childhood obesity is its persistence into adulthood,” according to the Children and Young People Statistics 2013 report conducted by the British Heart Foundation. That report found that around 30 percent of young people in the United Kingdom are obese.
Since March is designated as Heart Health month, a number of activities centered on improving children’s health have been scheduled in Cayman.
There will be an activity zone for kids at the Cayman Heart Fund’s annual Heart Health Fair on March 22 at the Arts and Recreation Centre in Camana Bay.
The activity zone is designed to expose kids and teens to various activity groups on island, said Dr. Chen. Admission to the kids activity zone is free, and free health screenings for families will also be available at the fair.
Teens are encouraged to come to the zone to sign up for the Get Active Challenge, which begins the first week of May. The challenge can accept only 10 to 16 teens until further funding is secured.
Organizers want teens to find the fun in fitness, and to that end they have chosen outdoor activities including paddle-boarding and beach boot camp.
“We’re trying to make it fun and to keep kids motivated with prizes at the end [of the program] … Hopefully, the kids will get excited by different activity groups on island, and it will make them want to join and sign up,” said Dr. Chen.
The program for overweight teenagers is “aimed at motivating them to exercise on a regular basis and educating them on how to read food labels, portion control and making healthier choices,” she added. Statistics from last year’s program show that seven participants were at risk for diabetes, according to Dr. Chen.
“This is a great opportunity for teenagers to get themselves checked and make healthier lifestyle choices as they have the support of myself, Kristen Lomas, dietitian, Ernest [Ebanks], fitness trainer, and all the wonderful sponsors who would like to give them the jump-start they need to make a positive change,” she added.
At the end of the program, various prizes will be distributed, including iPhones, and other items.
A family matter
Parents are also encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle for themselves and to set an example for their children.
“We encourage the parents to be involved with their kids as role models. [The parents] are the ones who take them to do activities and they buy the food. You can buy DVD workouts instead of dropping [the kids] to the gym. Parents can also do stuff at home with the kids, like playing games on a Sunday, or going with them for walks or jogging,” said Dr. Chen.
“Being overweight is not a label you have to live with,” she said. “You can actually make a change.
“It’s all about encouraging the families to get active together, and try to be more healthy. It’s not about looking slim; it’s about managing blood pressure and cholesterol, thinking about things longer down the line for your overall health.”
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