Program Targets Childhood Obesity

By Lila de Tantillo
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2005; Page LZ01

Every Thursday, about 30 third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students meet at the Seldens Landing Elementary School gymnasium for kickboxing, yoga and other lessons on how to stay fit.

About half of those children are also participating in research by Inova Loudoun Hospital to determine whether the program inspires them to make healthful choices about food and exercise.

"It's the age at which students start forming beliefs and perceptions about how to make healthy choices," said Karen Gabel Speroni, the hospital's nursing research director. She designed the pilot study after she heard about Seldens Landing's Kids Living Fit program, which began at the eastern Loudoun school in April.

"We give them concrete examples and information about food choices and allow them to develop behaviors associated with a less sedentary lifestyle," Speroni said. "If it shows there was a positive impact, then we can use this information to develop programs to reduce children being overweight."

Speroni said the study is a response to an epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States. She cited research by the American Obesity Association that found that about 15 percent of children ages 6 to 19 are obese, meaning they are at or above the 95th percentile on the body mass index scale set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The baby fat can often remain for years: Overweight children are also more likely to be overweight as adults, according to the association.

Kids Living Fit has a contract with Seldens Landing to provide the eight-week fitness program for $55 a child. It is run by Susan Franzese and Pana DeGooyer, both trainers who have third-grade daughters in the program.

During the first week, students in the hospital study filled out detailed diaries and questionnaires about their favorite foods and what family members like. They were weighed, measured and given pedometers to wear daily. The initial figures will be compared with results at the end of the program.

The program will conclude with a party during which parents will be invited to exercise with their children. They will celebrate with such snacks as fruits and water -- even fruit juice is frowned upon because of its sugar content.

"We're not big on sugar drinks. If you want to have apple juice, have the apple," Franzese recommended.

DeGooyer said the program will be offered at Seldens Landing again next year and at Tolbert Elementary.

Kerry Mortweet of Ashburn said she hoped it would be offered at Newton-Lee Elementary when it opens in August. Her daughter, Jenna, will transfer there next year.

"All the moves are really cool, and when I stretch it makes me feel good," said Jenna, now a third-grader at Seldens, who was wearing a workout outfit of a pink shirt and white pants while dancing and doing aerobics.

Doing jumping jacks and lunges to MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" may have already had an impact: Franzese said she has observed the students bragging about their workouts and caring more about what they eat as well as encouraging family members to do likewise.

"They're calling their parent on the carpet and saying, 'We need to eat better,' " Franzese said. "And, 'We need to have more vegetables.'"