SUMMER 2012

THE Y FOCUSES ON HEALTHY LIVING

Youth obesity and its long-term impact on lifelong wellness continue to be a major healthcare issue locally and nationally. The Y offers programs that encourage kids to stay physically active during the summer months. We introduce children to new physical activities to offset weight gain and also help them to establish healthier habits. Through your support, these Y programs are made possible to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay. KAISER PERMANENTE HELPS CHILDREN GET A HEALTHY START While most preschool programs incorporate time in the school day for movement, development and physical activity, your Y is the first to include a fun, yet structured, program that incorporates moderate to vigorous activity and measures its impact. In conjunction with funding from Kaiser Permanente Foundation, your Y has developed Start For Life. This program, developed as the first phase of a 13-year longitudinal study, fosters the adoption of good exercise and healthy eating habits from an early age, delivered cost effectively by the classroom teachers. Given the promising data collected in its first year, Start For Life will be progressively introduced across all Y preschool classrooms. Start For Life increased moderate to vigorous activity among 1,200 students this year and was a great health benefit to teachers like Meagan Williams and Kari Pennington (photo L-R) of the YMCA Paulding Early Childhood Development Academy. The Start For Life program helped me jump-start my own personal workout, says Meagan. Since getting involved with the kids and their physical activities, Meagan has lost 35 pounds. She continues to grow in her pursuit for better health by exercising at home as well. For Kari, being a teacher made getting active a little easier. By leading the Start For Life preschool exercise program, she was motivated to make adjustments in her diet and exercise habits. She saw results, losing a total of 50 pounds.

CHILDRENS HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA AND Y TEAM UP FOR ACTIVE KIDS When you think about quality pediatric care, Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta comes to mind. And, when you think of quality physical and childcare programs, we hope the Y tops your list. We are proud to announce these two prominent youth-serving organizations combined their expertise to develop an enhanced version of the Ys highly acclaimed Youth Fit For Life program. This new program aimed at the prevention of childhood obesity includes physical activity, resistance exercises, healthy eating and parental engagement components. The program will not be limited to the after-school setting, and with Childrens Healthcare of Atlantas help, this effort will reach children far beyond the walls of the Y, potentially impacting the healthy lifestyles of youth across the state of Georgia.
Newsletter courtesy of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta Financial Development Department. Questions or comments, please contact us at (404) 588-9622 Ext. 5358.