New Years Resolution: Improve your childs health

  • Published
  • By Katie Zinkgraf
  • Ramstein Health & Wellness Center volunteer
Parents who are concerned about their children's eating habits and weight, should - as a new year's resolution - look at the new program that the Ramstein Health and Wellness Center starts Wednesday. The program is called Lets Eat Smart Then Exercise Right. Any family with a child between the ages of 6 and 11 and willing and able to attend can participate in LESTER.

 "The LESTER program emphasizes family involvement, self-esteem building and fun    activities for everyone," said Col. Angela Thompson, 435th Medical Group commander and pediatric nurse practitioner. "Through recognition of healthy food choices and beneficial physical activities, they will explore and plan activities together - sharing information on a level that is understandable for the children -- and activities that can be incorporated by the busy family that is always on the go."

 Over the past three decades children's health concerns have shifted from nutrient  deficiencies and high infant mortality rates to childhood obesity. According to the book, "Nutritional Sciences: From Fundamentals to Food," by Michelle McGuire and Kathy A. Beerman, it is estimated that 15 percent of children (6 to 11 years old) are at risk for being overweight (between the 85th and 95th percentile) and another 15 percent are overweight (>95th percentile). 

 As evidenced by the American Diabetes Association, 8 to 45 percent of children with newly diagnosed diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Children who are overweight are more likely to be overweight as adults than children who are a healthy weight. Childhood obesity increases the chance of developing chronic health problems in adulthood such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and osteoporosis.

Behavioral and healthy eating habits are critically important for growing children. The food choices children are making have not been coinciding with the food guide pyramid. For children 2 to 9 years old, 63 percent are not consuming the recommended number of servings of fruits, and 78 percent are not consuming the recommended number of servings of vegetables according to www.eatright.org. Only 12.7 percent of the children are consuming an average of two or more servings of whole grains daily. 

Children are simply not eating enough fruits, vegetables or whole grain foods. Of great concern are children eating energy dense snacks while watching TV. With the advent of video games and the increase in hours of watching TV, children are becoming predominately physically inactive. Restricting the number of hours children watch TV alone will not increase or facilitate weight loss. Exercise and healthful food choices at home are critically vital to your child's health and wellness.

Participating in LESTER includes two individual sessions with the registered dietitian, six weeks of group sessions, one LESTER parent manual, one LESTER child's notebook, monthly newsletters (for 12 months) and two follow-up visits (at six months and 12 months). 

The next class begins 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. No doctor's referral is necessary. Groups are offered every quarter. Call the Ramstein HAWC at 06371-474292 or (480-HAWC) to begin the enrollment process.