NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation offers free healthy lifestyle program for kids

The NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation is taking a proactive approach to combating obesity in children.

The Center for Healthy Children is offering two three-week summer sessions that focus on helping children and their families learn to live a fit way of life through nutrition and physical activity.  The program is free of charge for children ages 8-12 with a body mass index of 25 or greater and requires parental involvement. The first summer session will be held June 10 – June 28, and the deadline to register is June 3. The second summer session will be from July 8– July 26, and the deadline to register is July 1.

Sessions include discussions on nutrition, self-esteem and other various subjects for the entire family. Life skills on how to choose foods wisely through label reading, portion control and eating on the go will be taught in the nutrition classes. Children will learn how to have fun while they exercise through new activities such as martial arts, dance and team sports.

In addition to the structured program, the Center for Healthy Children has a fitness room children are able to explore during free play. The specially designed fitness room includes a rock-climbing wall, hydraulic resistance machines, Dance-Dance Revolution groove pads, Wii games and stationary bicycles. The children also have use of the indoor swimming pool and indoor track at the NEA Baptist Clinic Wellness Center located at 2617 Phillips Drive.

For more information about the NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation Center for Healthy Children or to download an application, log on to neabaptistfoundation.org or contact Jennifer Martinez at 870-336-1760.

The Center for Healthy Children is one of five programs offered free to the public through the NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation, a subsidiary of the Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation.  The program’s purpose is to teach, motivate and guide overweight children and their families to build a solid foundation of proper nutrition and regular exercise for a healthy lifestyle.