Newsletters

Healthy Child Fall/Winter 2005

"Healthy Life" Pediatric Weight Management Program At Saint Barnabas Focuses On More Than Food

For the first time in modern history, our children's life expectancy could be lower than our own. The reason is an alarming rise in pediatric obesity. Without proper intervention, overweight children are at risk for early development of health problems such as diabetes, hormonal imbalances, heart disease, high blood pressure, breathing problems, sleep problems, joint problems, as well as social and psychological difficulties.

Healthy LIFE® - Healthy Lifestyle Is For Everyone –– Pediatric Weight Management program at the Pediatric Specialty Center (Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center), provides a blamefree, supportive environment for overweight children and their families to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Healthy LIFE® is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program that teaches children, teens and their families how to live in a healthy way, regardless of previous habits or challenging circumstances.

“A healthy lifestyle, rather than a strict diet, is the key to lifelong weight management,” says Henry Anhalt, D.O., F.A.A.P, Director of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and co-director of Healthy LIFE®“ program. “The program uses research-proven methods to help children lose excess body weight and to maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle forever.”

Dr. Anhalt, nationally-known expert in pediatric obesity, co-directs Healthy LIFE® with Debra Gill, Ph.D., Behavioral Director, who was the former clinical director of the weight-management clinic at the world-renowned Cooper Institute in Texas.

The Program
Participants receive multidisciplinary expert instruction in behavior, nutrition and exercise, weekly guidance and encouragement, and the opportunity to practice newly-learned behavioral skills over a 6-12 month period. Through weekly planning, problem solving, and praise for effort and accomplishments, children in the Healthy LIFE® program learn to handle challenging situations in healthy ways.

“We help to remove the parent from the role of policeman and instead make him or her a coach who supports the progress of the child,” says Dr. Gill. “Each week during group sessions the children get to share their accomplishments, whether these may include eating a new food, trying a new activity or losing a pound. At the same time, parents have an opportunity to proudly acknowledge those efforts.”

All participants can expect to reduce excess body fat and improve their physical fitness during the program. Through the program, children can experience feelings of pride in their accomplishments, companionship with others and partnerships with parents.

With help from a registered dietician, exercise specialist and behavioral coach, families learn how to eat smarter and become physically fit.

Free Information Sessions
Interested families can attend an informative evening, meet the program directors, and learn more about Healthy LIFE®. The free Parent Information Sessions, which require registration, run on November 7, December 5 and January 9 from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Pediatric Specialty Center, Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center, 200 South Orange Avenue, Livingston. The next treatment groups start at the end of November, in early December 2005, and March and May 2006.

Families can work together to create a more healthy lifestyle. Following are tips from the Healthy LIFE® program:

• Share a common goal of staying active. Involve the whole family in nature walks or other enjoyable physical pursuits.
• Promote healthy eating by offering nutritious snacks (vegetables and fruits, low-fat dairy foods and whole grains.)
• Pack healthy school lunches with lean meats, fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Or, to save calories, try “light” high fiber breads (you can even find white bread with added fiber).
• Model healthy food choices for your child and speak positively about the inclusion of healthy foods
• Promote physical activity, including unstructured play and sports activities.
• When eating out, consider the portion size to be the equivalent of two meals. Eat half the meal, and then take the other half home to mix with vegetables for a second dinner the next night.
• Limit television and video time to a maximum of 2 hours per day.

Call the Healthy LIFE“ coordinator at (973) 322- 7496 to register for the information session, or to request additional program information.

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