Mentor Program May Help Kids Lose Weight

It’s hard to lose weight, especially when you’re a young child fighting the battle of the bulge all alone.

So the Hospital for Sick Children had added its own muscle to achieving a healthier you by pairing hefty youngsters with mentors who have already made the fitness grade.

The fit partners, who are generally students at the U. of T., meet with the children once a week to inspire and encourage them that they can succeed and they don’t have to do it without help.

Does it work? Twelve-year-old Kira Awrey has been trying it out and can see the effects first hand.   “I think I’ve lost a little bit more weight and, as my mom said, my clothes have gotten looser,” she laughs.

“We’ve played soccer, we’ve played catch in the park, we’ve gone for walks in the park,” explains Trish Raghunandan, who’s acting as a weight loss guide.

But the experiment has also had an unexpected benefit for those whose waistlines are already slim and trim.

“It’s definitely made a difference in my life, even with my own nutrition,” Trish agrees. “I know it’s done the same thing with Kira so I think it’s a very positive relationship.”

The fitness buff has helped her new friend learn about the necessity of a healthy diet. And now the youngster is passing that information on to a higher power.

“She’s actually convinced mom and dad to get a treadmill in the house,” her mother, Susan, admits. “So…now mom and dad both use it!”

The Hospital for Sick Children is looking for more kids who want to get involved in the program. If you’d like to take part, email James at golden.keys@sickkids.ca or call (416) 813-7617.

It’s not the bird flu, but it is an epidemic.

Its effects aren’t always immediately apparent, but they will inevitably come back to haunt future generations.

It’s obesity in kids, an increasingly serious problem that’s weighing down today’s youth and leaving doctors concerned about future health problems.

Here are some suggestions from the experts on how to keep the weight of their world down.

-Encourage your children to get moving. Lack of physical activity is the biggest cause of weight gain in youngsters.

-Limit the amount of television they can watch and the time they can spend playing video and computer games. And limit the snacks they consume in front on the tube.

-Organize family outings, such as hiking, biking, swimming and skiing.

-Encourage your children to participate in any sports they enjoy.

-Teach them about eating right. Junk food tastes great but a balanced diet is the key to staying well and thin.

-Explain how having smaller meals and snacks more often is a healthier way to eat.

-Set a good example yourself – be active and develop healthy eating habits. That includes bringing fewer high calorie and low nutrient foods into your house. Your family can’t eat them if they’re not there.

-Never take the fun out of food. Allow the occasional treat.

-Don’t talk about physical activity as a chore.  Eating right and staying active should both become part of your children’s daily activities. One way to get them moving is to take them shopping with you and let them help you choose the healthier alternatives.

-You are what you drink. Sugar laden soft drinks and fruit juices can be like liquid candy.

-Don’t set a weight goal. Some aren’t reasonable and can leave your child feeling like a failure.

Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada