When Babs Benson, CHKD’s Healthy You coordinator, learned that the YMCA was tackling the issue of childhood obesity as part of the Activate America initiative, she was thrilled.

The CHKD facilities where Healthy You, a weight management program that teaches overweight children and their parents how to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles, was offered had “limited space and resources which made it difficult to conduct the kind of fun, varied exercise sessions that would really sell participants on exercise,” said Benson.

Benson approached the Norfolk Family YMCA about offering Healthy You at the YMCA so that participants could learn that exercise can be fun and be active as a group.

Instead of meeting once a week at a CHKD location, the Healthy You classes now meet twice a week, with one night reserved exclusively for exercise at a YMCA. Each family also receives a free 8-week family YMCA membership to put their lessons to use throughout the week. Other YMCAs in Greenbrier, Virginia Beach, Hampton and Newport News have also jumped on board.

“The kids love it,” say Norfolk Family YMCA Directors. “One night I saw a dad trying to get his child to leave. And she said, ‘No, Dad. I don’t want to go yet.’ And she was walking on a treadmill! This has been a feel-good experience for all of us. We are 100% committed to helping Healthy You.”

Lisa Grace-Whitehead of Chesapeake attended Healthy You classes at the Greenbrier Family YMCA with her two daughters. “Both of my daughters and I have lost weight, and so has my 20 year-old son,” she says. “My kids never say no to swimming at the Y,” she continued.

For more information about the Healthy You program, contact the CHKD Healthline at 757-668-7500 or heathline@chkd.org. (www.chkd.org)