Healthy Weight & Your Child

(231) 722-9622

1115 Third Street, Muskegon, MI 49441

HEALTHY WEIGHT AND YOUR CHILD

Families Making Healthier Choices Together

Busy families face many obstacles to making healthy food choices and being active together. We’ll help you learn how to work with your kids to live a healthier life.

Healthy Weight and Your Child is a 15 week evidence-based weight management program to reclaim your family’s health through healthier eating habits and an active lifestyle. This program is designed with the whole family in mind, engaging a child and adult in education, healthy eating and physical activity to elicit positive change and help families learn skills to live a healthier lifestyle long-term. Evidence shows that child weight-management programs are more effective when the whole family is involved and committed to adopting healthier habits.

1 in 6 kids has obesity in the United States. Children with obesity are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self esteem. Children with obesity are also more likely to develop risk factors for cardiovascular disease and prediabetes.

The program is designed for kids ages 7 to 13 that carry excess weight. An adult must attend all sessions with the child, which provides opportunities for families to have fun, quality time by learning and playing together. This program is free and open to the public.

I'M INTERESTED IN THIS PROGRAM

For Families

About the Program:

Made of up to 10 children and their adult, the YMCA creates a safe, fun, and active environment for children and their families to explore and adopt proven methods to living a healthier lifestyle.
A child MUST be accompanied by a parent or caregiver for each session.

Topics covered:

Goals and rewards, moving and grooving as a family, fats and sugars, grocery store tour, fabulous foods, feeling good about me

Program Session Structure:

For Clinicians

Qualifications:

Child must be 7-13 years old
Child must carry excess weight, with a body mass index of the 95th percentile or higher
Child must receive clearance from a healthcare provider or school nurse to participate in physical activity
Adult MUST attend all sessions with child

Referral Form: Print Fillable PDF

Clearance Form: Print Fillable PDF

Healthy Weight and Your Child Program Overview

Resources for talking with your patients about their obesity

Information on Muskegon YMCA Feedback Loop:

Testimonials

At our last full class before the pandemic, I received the attached letter from one of our young participants. The letter warmed my heart and even though we talked about some tough stuff, we built loving, caring relationships with these families. Those relationships were and continue to be at the core of our work together.

Diane Goodman

My most vivid memories of the few groups we have worked with were the relationships we built. Laughter was always part of our time together. The games we played were always a hit. Kids loved to have their parents join us and see them laugh and play.

Diane Goodman

We started healthy weight and your child with 4 families in the fall of 2018. Our hope was to impact the lives and health of local families in a positive way. Little did we know we would create a family of our own. We learned so much from each other. The families learned about healthy food choices, physical activities that can be done together and how to navigate the difficult world of dealing with childhood obesity.

Diane Goodman

FAQ

What is the cost for this program?

The Healthy Weight and Your Child program is free and open to the public.

Why does the program focus on the whole family?

Evidence shows that child weight-management programs are more effective when the whole family is involved and committed to adopting healthier habits. An adult must attend all sessions with the child.