YMCA tries to knock out obesity in preteens
Lisa Nicita
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 13, 2006 12:00 AM
Becky Mayhew stood in the hallway of the Copper Basin YMCA on Tuesday and watched two of her children huff and puff through leg lifts and jumping jacks on miniature hydraulic machines designed just for their tiny bodies. The two boys were sweating when the class ended.
Reese Mayhew, 7, liked the machine "where you spread your legs" best. Skye Mayhew, 6, liked to pump his biceps up on "the arm machine."
"My kids are always up for exercise," Mayhew said. "I'm a firm believer kids don't get enough exercise."
Mayhew's boys were two of about a dozen kids who were participating in the Y's preteen fitness program designed for children as young as 5 and up to 13. The preteen fitness program began as a pilot program in Mesa more than a year ago, but has proven successful enough that every branch in the Valley is stocked with pint-size equipment, including the Chandler/Gilbert location.
Mike Snitz, marketing director for Valley of the Sun YMCA, said the program gets kids interested in fitness. He said the Y is looking to outfit all the Valley branches with updated equipment in the coming months.
"We're going to be focusing even more on getting kids active at a younger age and tackling the childhood obesity issue," Snitz said.
And kids seem to like it.
Tony Lehn, healthy lifestyle director at Copper Basin, said the class was introduced at his branch about two months ago. It began with just three kids and, with summer here, has grown in popularity, averaging about 12 kids for each of the two sessions during the week.
To a backdrop of pop music pumping from a boom box on the floor, the kids shuttled from station to station, spending about 30 seconds at each machine with about five seconds' rest in between. The half-hour class ended with a five-minute stretch.
The machines offer hydraulic resistance, so no weights are involved. But the program does introduce the kids to the benefits of using machines, making them more comfortable with the idea when they transition into the adult gym, Snitz said.
Jonathan Lehn, 7, said after the class that he was wiped out.
"Now, I'm tired and I have baseball," he said.
Angela Palmer, 12, said she liked the class. Palmer said she exercises only when she has to. But she said this class made it fun.
"It was hard and then it got really easy," Palmer said. "I'll probably try it again. It's entertaining."
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