Posted: 6/6/2018
Year-round nutrition classes teach kids, parents about healthy habits
Leading a healthy lifestyle is a year-round activity. And it needs to be a habit that starts young, medical experts say. A 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that more than 57 percent of today’s children will suffer from obesity by the time they reach age 35. That’s why Parkland Health & Hospital System offers a variety of educational options for kids and their parents to learn about positive, healthy behaviors that can help them make healthy choices that will last a lifetime.
Each summer Parkland hosts Camp CHAMPS, a series of day camps where children can learn about exercise, nutrition and healthy activities in a fun and entertaining environment. And throughout the year, pediatric nutrition classes are held at Parkland health centers throughout Dallas County to encourage families to learn about the importance of good nutrition and an active lifestyle.
“Childhood obesity is a serious public health problem in the United States, putting millions of kids at risk for poor health,” said Cesar Termulo, MD, pediatrician at Parkland’s Hatcher Station Health Center. “Parkland providers work diligently with families through our medical visits and a variety of programs to teach the value of healthy habits.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people (6-19 years) in the United States is obese.
“During the annual Camp CHAMPS we teach children about nutrition, exercise, healthy choices and other life skills,” said Jeff Howard, Parkland Community Development Specialist. “The main focus of Camp CHAMPS is to help kids learn healthy behaviors.”
CHAMPS stands for Choosing Healthy Activities, Meals and Positive Self-esteem. During the camp, which is free and open to children 7-16 years of age, Parkland physicians, educators, social workers and dietitians are on hand to provide valuable educational activities and screenings. Camp CHAMPS is organized as a four-day camp in each of the locations. This year the camps will be held:
• June 11-14 at the City of Lancaster Recreation Center, 1700 Veterans Memorial Pkwy., Lancaster, 75134
• June 18-21 at J.J. Rhoads Elementary, 4401 South 2nd Ave., Dallas, 75210
• June 25-28 at J.J. Rhoads Elementary, 4401 South 2nd Ave., Dallas, 75210
• July 9-12 at Cardinal Farrell Community Center, 321 Calumet Ave., Dallas, 75211
• July 16-19 at Voice of Hope Ministries, 4120 Gentry Drive, Dallas, 75212
“We hope our Camp CHAMPS patients share what they learn with everyone in their families,” Howard said.
Camp CHAMPS isn’t the only Parkland program focused on creating healthier habits among children and their families. Dietitians at the Oak West and Hatcher Station health centers host classes throughout the year aimed at helping kids change unhealthy habits.
Once a month, Registered Dietitian Sharon Cox leads Pediatric Shared Medical Appointments (SMA) at the Oak West Health Center. During the group session, children and teens from 7-15 years of age, along with their families, learn about the benefits of healthy eating and daily exercise.
“We want children and their families to stay active, eat well and value their health,” Cox said. “During our SMAs we do fun activities. We draw, we dance and we exercise. We want our patients to see that working toward a healthier life doesn’t have to be a chore.”
Cox’s classes are based on the “5-4-3-2-1 Go!” principle, which advocates five servings of fruits and vegetables, four glasses of water, three servings of low-fat dairy products, two hours or less of screen time and one hour or more of exercise daily.
Chris Gonzales, 8, and his mother Carolina Najera of Duncanville, attend the Pediatric Shared Medical Appointments. Chris was referred to these classes because his doctor was concerned about his weight. “I hope these classes teach me ways to help our family eat better and become more active,” Najera said.
Gonzalez said he’s excited to share what he’s learned with the rest of his family and friends. “I’m not a picky eater, but now I know I have to eat more fruits and veggies. I also love to dance and ride my bike. I need to do those things more,” he said.
Every two months, Melissa Mendez, RD leads a Spanish-language pediatric nutrition class at Parkland’s Hatcher Station Health Center. The class is offered to children from 5-12 years of age who struggle with weight problems. The class is also open to their families.
“My main goal is to provide nutrition education to help families work together in making lifestyle changes to prevent the development of medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and other preventable chronic conditions,” Mendez said.
“I want families to have the proper tools, education and resources to make the changes on their own and to sustain a healthy lifestyle in the long term,” Mendez added.
Children may be referred to Pediatric Shared Medical Appointments or pediatric nutrition classes by their primary care physicians.
For more information or to pre-register for Camp CHAMPS, contact Jeff Howard at 214-266-1120 or Jeffrey.Howard@phhs.org. For more information about Parkland services, please visit www.parklandhospital.com