Reaching to remain fit

Y Kids aims to slim chances of childhood obesity

Duane Prokop/ViewChildren take part in the Y Kids program at the Centennial Hills Community Center YMCA, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive. Classes include yoga, cardio, hip-hop and easy step sessions. In addition to the CentennialHills branch, Y Kids classes are offered at the Bill & Lillie Heinrich YMCA, 1414 Meadows Lane, and the Durango Hills Community Center YMCA, 3521 N. Durango Drive.Duane Prokop/View Duane Prokop/viewY Kids classes are free with membership at the Centennial Hills Community Center YMCA. Advertisement

Amanda Carlson is a fitness instructor whose clients burst into the room declaring which flavor of Gatorade they brought.

With sports drink in hand -- and some light-up tennis shoes on feet -- Carlson is Mother Goose to a gaggle of energetic 5- to 12-year-olds who might not even know that their play is exercise.

"If kids are involved in play, it doesn't feel like a regimen," she said. "They have the most energy."

The 40-minute classes Carlson leads twice a week are part of the YMCA of Southern Nevada's Y Kids program, a fitness initiative aimed at the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.

The program was introduced to YMCA families at the beginning of the year and has gained popularity.

YMCAs across the nation are participating in Activate America, a program urging branches to redefine themselves and their communities to address the health crisis facing all Americans.

Y Kids at the Centennial Hills branch, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive, stay on the move with yoga, cardio, hip-hop and easy step classes. The classes are free with YMCA membership.

Through love of exercise and instillation of healthy lifestyle choices, the program hopes to lower what are considered some alarming statistics.

An estimated 17 percent of children and adolescents 2 to 19 are obese, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention findings.

Obese children and adolescents are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults.

One study found that about 80 percent of children who were overweight at ages 10 to 15 became obese adults at age 25.

First lady Michelle Obama has targeted childhood obesity with Let's Move, her personal health and wellness campaign for kids.

Although Y Kids is still in its infancy and long-term results are yet to be seen, YMCA officials are seeing change.

"The parents tell me that the kids sleep better, are stress-free and are becoming closer to the family," said Sandy Doherty, senior fitness director for the YMCA of Southern Nevada.

Parents are welcome to watch or participate in the classes or sneak away for their own fitness regimens.

"No longer do they have the excuse of having to find a baby sitter," Doherty said. "The parents are enjoying watching their kids have fun and getting them away from the couch and a bag of chips."

Y Kids classes also are offered at the Southern Nevada YMCA's other branches: the Bill & Lillie Heinrich YMCA, 1414 Meadows Lane, and the Durango Hills Community Center YMCA, 3521 N. Durango Drive.

The classes vary at each Southern Nevada YMCA branch, as each branch's amenities are different.

Centennial Hills resident Kathy Kelly said she sees changes in her two sons.

"They're more focused on staying fit, and they support me in my fitness goals," she said.

Carlson leads the classes through a variety of activities.

"Hop over the snake, don't wake up the snake," she called to the 13 boys and girls hopping left to right with her during a recent Cardio Blast class.

She encourages drinking plenty of water and sneaks healthy-lifestyle quips into her instruction.

Kelly watched her energetic sons during the class and was on the receiving end of a lot of "that's fun" calls from 4-year-old Conner.

"This is a good time of day because they have a lot of energy," she said of the 4 p.m. starting time.

Mom Jessie Miles said she has seen her sons, Luke, 7, and Carter, 4, channel their new energy more constructively since starting Y Kids.

Miles, a fitness instructor, tries to blend exercise into all family activities, including trampoline time, walks and bike rides, in addition to YMCA time.

"It's good to get them started early liking exercise," she said. "What I like about the Y is they involve the whole family."

Doherty said the Centennial Hills YMCA is considering adding cooking classes to Y Kids this fall.

For more information about Activate America, visit ymca.net/activateamerica.

For a list of classes and membership information about the Centennial Hills YMCA, visit lasvegasymca.org or call 877-9622.

Contact Centennial and Southeast View reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.