The Y Encourages Families to Address Healthy Living During Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

The Santa Anita Family YMCA offers healthy eating and physical activity tips to help residents live healthier

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and the Santa Anita Family YMCA – a leader in youth development and healthy living-wants to help families in Monrovia, Duarte and Arcadia to understand the risks of childhood obesity and how to incorporate regular physical activity and healthy eating into their lives.
Childhood obesity rates have soared over the last few decades. Nationally, one in three children is obese or overweight, and in Monrovia, 39.8%, in Duarte, 41.9% and in Arcadia, 25.1% of children are affected by this epidemic, according to the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and California Center for Public Health Advocacy. More alarming, obesity puts children at risk for chronic diseases often seen in adults, such as high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
“At the Y, we want families to understand the risks of childhood obesity and the lifetime benefits of eating right and getting physically active,” said Damon Colaluca, Executive Director, Santa Anita Family YMCA. “Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to healthy living and the Y is a great place for families to get started.”
This health crisis sheds light on the need to provide children and parents with the resources and the support they need, emphasizing that small steps can lead to sustained changes to reverse the childhood obesity trend. The following tips can help families live healthier:
1. Eat Healthy: Make water the drink of choice (supplemented by 100 percent fruit juices and low-fat milk) and have fruits and vegetables available at every meal. Snack time should include foods that contain whole grains and lean protein instead of saturated and trans fats.

2. Play Every Day/Go Outside: Kids and adults should have at least an hour a day of unstructured play outside (when possible) and break a sweat at least three times a week by getting 20 minutes or more of physical activity.

3. Get Together: At least once a day families should dine together, with kids involved in meal preparation and clean up. In addition, adults should spend one-on-one time each day with their kids.
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4. Reduce Screen Time: Time spent in front of a television, computer, cell phone and video game should be limited to two hours per day.

5. Sleep Well: Kids and adults need to keep a regular sleep schedule-10-12 hours per night for kids and seven to eight hours for adults.

The Santa Anita Family YMCA offers programs such as Dolphin Fitness Club, Family Swim and Jr. Fit Club. These programs have helped children and families by encouraging less screen time, increasing healthy activity habits and helping to put play back into busy family schedules.
To learn more about the Y’s Healthy Living programs, please contact Karen Mac Nair at karenmacnair@ymcala.org.

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