MONROE - No expensive exercise equipment is needed to help kids stay healthy.
The Green County Family YMCA and Crossroads Community Church hosted the annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day Saturday to help kids learn the value of being healthy. And how to do it.
"We're teaching them to be eat healthy and be active," volunteer Tiffany Bohnert said. "There are alternatives to fast-food."
Saturday's event was part of the YMCA's and Crossroads Church's effort to fight childhood obesity, and encourage kids to put play in their days.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, cdc.gov, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. "The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 increased from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 19.6 percent in 2008," the Web site said. "The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 increased from 5 percent to 18.1 percent."
Children who are obese have a greater chance of developing high cholesterol of high blood pressure, according to the CDC.
Event volunteer Shannon Hawkinson said kids need to exercise and learn how much fun it can be to live a healthy lifestyle. Too many kids go home from school and sit in front of their computers or in front of the television, she said.
"There's a lot they can do beside playing video games," she said. "They can play with a ball or ride a bike or go for a walk."
More than 150 kids took part in the activities, which included games, log rolling in the swimming pool and a Bungee run. Local organizations also had booths in the gym to help kids learn the importance of being healthy.
The children who participated ranged in age from 2 years old to teens.
"We pretty much took over the YMCA," Bohnert laughed.
The Green County Family YMCA and Crossroads Community Church hosted the annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day Saturday to help kids learn the value of being healthy. And how to do it.
"We're teaching them to be eat healthy and be active," volunteer Tiffany Bohnert said. "There are alternatives to fast-food."
Saturday's event was part of the YMCA's and Crossroads Church's effort to fight childhood obesity, and encourage kids to put play in their days.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, cdc.gov, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. "The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 increased from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 19.6 percent in 2008," the Web site said. "The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 increased from 5 percent to 18.1 percent."
Children who are obese have a greater chance of developing high cholesterol of high blood pressure, according to the CDC.
Event volunteer Shannon Hawkinson said kids need to exercise and learn how much fun it can be to live a healthy lifestyle. Too many kids go home from school and sit in front of their computers or in front of the television, she said.
"There's a lot they can do beside playing video games," she said. "They can play with a ball or ride a bike or go for a walk."
More than 150 kids took part in the activities, which included games, log rolling in the swimming pool and a Bungee run. Local organizations also had booths in the gym to help kids learn the importance of being healthy.
The children who participated ranged in age from 2 years old to teens.
"We pretty much took over the YMCA," Bohnert laughed.