Article Contributed on: 7/30/2009 4:44:04 PM
THE RMYC REMIND PARENTS TO KEEP THEIR KIDS ACTIVE AND HEALTHY
DENVER - July 2009 - The findings of a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that obesity is taking an incredible toll on the health care system in America. Even more critical is that according to the CDC, 17 percent of children 6 to 11 years old and 17.6 percent of children 12 to 19 years old are obese. As a result, overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise. The Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics (The RMYC) would like to take this opportunity to remind parents about the importance of physical activity and healthy eating in their children's lives.
"It is important for children to both eat right and be active to maintain a healthy lifestyle," explained Dr. Larry Wolk, founder and executive director of The RMYC. "Weight screenings are a part of every child's visit at our clinics. If there is an issue, we offer low-cost health care services to help children receive the care they need to manage their weight."
The RMYC is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high quality health care services to children and adolescents in Colorado, regardless of their insurance status or a family's ability to pay. In 2006, The RMYC opened The RMYC' Weight Clinic to help Colorado children fight obesity. Dr. Cheryl Saipe, director of The RMYC' Weight Clinic, and her team, consisting of nurses, a dietician and a physical therapist, conduct a complete medical evaluation for each patient to look for obesity-related illnesses such as sleep apnea, asthma and depression. In addition, tests are performed to determine blood pressure and cholesterol levels and to identify liver problems and type 2 diabetes.
"If a person consumes one 12 oz. can of soda each day for one year, by the end of the year they will gain approximately 15 pounds," said Dr. Saipe. "The average patient we see is gaining 2 to 3 pounds per month or 20 to 30 pounds per year. We want to help them maintain weight and be more healthy without putting them on a restricting diet."
Dr. Saipe and her team work with each individual patient and their family to create a healthy eating and exercise plan that works for them. The dietician creates a personalized healthy nutrition plan so that no one is dieting and no one is left feeling hungry. The physical therapist assesses each patient's fitness level and comes up with an exercise regimen that fits his or her individual needs. Each plan created will help that patient maintain their current weight, so that in a few years their height and weight will be closer to average for their age.
Dr. Saipe also recommends the 3 and 3 plan for her patients. The 3 and 3 plan includes eating three meals a day to stop the cycle of feeling starved and/or stuffed and drinking three glasses of low fat milk per day. In addition, each patient at The RMYC' Weight Clinic is presented with the American Academy of Pediatric's (AAP) recommendations of 5-2-1-0:
• 5 - Eat FIVE fruits and vegetables each day.
• 2 - Have TWO hours or less per day of screen time, including computer and video games.
• 1 - Partake in ONE hour of physical activity per day
• 0 - Drink ZERO sweet drinks per day, including soda, juice and sports drinks.
Some of the weight management work being done at The RMYC is the result of a generous grant from the Aetna Foundation, which helps financially support the program.
The RMYC began as a single clinic and has grown to become one of the largest pediatric safety net providers in the U.S., serving more than 35,000 children through 50,000 patient visits each year. The RMYC' services are provided through a network of two Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles, more than 20 smaller off-site satellite clinics and three traditional clinics in Aurora, Denver and Thornton.
The RMYC have a unique and holistic approach to health care, providing children with a "medical home." In addition to traditional medical services, The RMYC' also offer an early childhood literacy program called Reach Out and Read, a food/clothing bank, a holiday gift assistance program, social work services, secondhand smoke exposure education, a weight management clinic, Postpartum Depression screening, an asthma clinic and tobacco cessation assistance as well as access to asthma clinics.
The RMYC want to ensure that children in Colorado are able to receive the proper care they need and deserve. To make an appointment at The RMYC' Weight Clinic, you can reach The RMYC Denver office via phone at 303-869-2182, the Aurora office at 303-360-8111 and the Thornton office at 303-450-3690.
If you are interested in helping The RMYC, please contact its Community Relations and Volunteer Manager, Jill Friedentag Fishman. She can be reached at 720-343-1785 or via email at jill@rockymountainyouth.org. You can make a difference - donate money, donate goods or donate your time today! For more information, please visit our Web site at rockymountainyouth.org.
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