The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Fit Youth participants make changes for better health.
As most of us know, losing weight can be a struggle. It’s even more difficult for children, preteens and teenagers. Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that about 1 in 5 school-age children in the U.S. has obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and gender. The Fit Youth program at Cleveland Clinic Children’s helps children ages 7 to 16 to lose weight.
“Fit Youth helps participants and their families get serious about weight management. The program helps them learn to embrace healthier eating habits, improve fitness and better manage stress,” says Catherine Gaw, PsyD, a clinical child psychologist who works with Fit Youth participants at Cleveland Clinic Willoughby Hills Family Health Center.
Participants, along with their parents and/or other family members, attend 90-minute sessions once a week for 12 weeks. Sometimes the families (up to 10) meet as a group. Other times, children and parents have separate group sessions. Group leaders, including a mental health specialist, dietitian, exercise specialist and pediatrician or nurse practitioner, work with participants to teach better health habits.
“Between meetings, participants keep food journals and exercise logs,” says Dr. Gaw. “Each week, we teach new skills and strategies and encourage setting new goals.”
According to the CDC, children with obesity are at higher risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases, including asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, type 2 diabetes and risk factors for heart disease.
“In many cases, children who are overweight have parents who struggle with engaging in healthy lifestyle habits. That’s why Fit Youth is a family weight management program,” says Dr. Gaw. “Because weight loss is truly a journey, we expect things to come up that will throw people off track, so we teach them what they need to know to get back on track and practice new skills. We support them in making change, but we know that every family is different and not every change will work for everybody.”