Portage YMCA Addresses Childhood Obesity

In the last ten years, obesity rates have increased 60%. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the current generation of American children could be the first to live shorter lives than their parents. The Portage Township YMCA developed LAUNCH as a proactive approach to address the recent rise of childhood obesity. With funding from the United Way of Porter County, LAUNCH will provide the opportunity for each child in our School Age Child Care program (Y-Care) to eat fresh fruits and vegetables for snack after school at least three days per week, to participate in active play at least one hour each day, sometimes with special guests from the YMCA Sports & Wellness Departments, and to learn about health and nutrition with St. Mary’s nurse, Danny Gonzalez, so that they can prepare to make positive choices for themselves in the future.

LAUNCH has its own core values associated with the program. These values are “People First”, “Be Learners” and “Be Excellent”. In teaching these values through the LAUNCH program, staff are helping children to focus on mutually respectful relationships with others as well as self-esteem and self-respect, learning a lesson from each experience they have in life – good or bad, and giving 100% effort in all they do.

Each month, LAUNCH will focus on fitness related contests and award healthy prizes to the first place boy & girl from each Y-Care site. In the month of January, the fitness activity will be focused on hula-hoops. The boy and girl at each site who tracks the most number of completed hula-hoops will win a prize. The contest begins January 9th & ends January 31st. Each student will be responsible for tracking their own progress daily and will be partnered up with another student to continue with YMCA core values or caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith. February’s fitness activity will focus on jumping rope. Come join us at LAUNCH!

As a leading nonprofit, the Portage Township YMCA strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Y is available to all, regardless of age, income or background. For more details regarding LAUNCH contact the YMCA at 219-762-9622 or at info@ymcaofportage.org. Website: www.ymcaofportage.org or like us on Facebook.