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Healthy Weight and Your Child

Registration is now open!

How the program works

Healthy Weight and Your Child is a three-month evidence-based program for children with obesity. The program empowers 7-13 year olds, with the support of their families, to reach a healthy weight and live a healthier lifestyle. The program includes a Family Information Session followed by sessions delivered over three months.

Made up of groups of 10 to 15 children and their adult the program creates a safe, fun, and active environment for children and their families to explore and adopt proven methods to living a healthier lifestyle.

Healthy Weight and Your Child’s curriculum is adapted from the most widely disseminated and extensively evaluated child weight management program in the world. The family-based weight-management program emphasizes three elements: healthy eating, regular physical activity, and behavior change to elicit a positive life-long lifestyle transformation.

The program is delivered by two trained leaders: A Content Leader who delivers the education and nutrition portions of the program; and an Activity Leader who leads physical activity safely for children with obesity.

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Children with obesity are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem, and are more likely to develop risk factors for cardiovascular disease and prediabetes.

EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO LIVE HEALTHIER

To qualify for participation in this program:

  • Child must be 7-13 years old
  • Child must carry excess weight, with a body mass index of the 95th percentile or higher
  • Child must receive clearance from a healthcare provider or school nurse to participate in physical activity
  • Adult MUST attend all sessions with child

A family-based lifestyle change program:

  • In-person sessions for child and adult
  • Peer support for adults
  • Physical activity
  • Healthy eating
  • Portion control
  • Grocery store tour
  • Food label reading

An evidence-based program

  • Over 39 peer-reviewed publications have documented positive outcomes following the program
  • Developed by leading child health and weight management specialists using the best available evidence, clinical and government guidelines

Garden Ranch YMCA

Tuesday/Thursday
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

For more information on Healthy Weight and Your Child, call 719.329.7233, email [email protected] or visit your local YMCA today!

Why the whole family?

Healthy Weight and Your Child engages the whole family, so together they can understand how the home environment and other factors influence the choices that lead to a healthy weight.

Evidence shows that child weight-management programs are more effective when the whole family is involved and committed to adopting healthier habits.

For this reason, the program is designed so that adult attendance is required at all sessions.

ACHIEVE A HEALTHY WEIGHT TOGETHER

Reclaim your family’s health through healthier eating habits and an active lifestyle.

Program Session Structure

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Early Adopted

The YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region is one of 19 Ys participating in a pilot program to address childhood obesity in youth ages 7-13, with a body mass index of the 95th percentile or higher and their families.

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