YMCAs and Horizon Foundation team up

A statewide effort to reduce childhood obesity by promoting physical exercise and healthy eating habits was announced yesterday by officials of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and the nonprofit organization that oversees the state's YMCAs.

As it appeared in the Star Ledger on Wedneday, September 17, 2008

A statewide effort to reduce childhood obesity by promoting physical exercise and healthy eating habits was announced yesterday by officials of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and the nonprofit organization that oversees the state's YMCAs.

The Healthy U program, as the initiative is called, has a four-year goal of reducing obesity by 10 percent among the 18,000 children enrolled in after-school programs overseen by the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance. Horizon has committed $1 million to the effort, which involves training staffers at 359 YMCAs in the state.

Known as CATCH, or Coordinated Approach to Child Health, the curriculum was developed by researchers at the University of Texas and is used by more than 7,000 schoolchildren nationwide. In New Jersey, where nearly a third of all children are classified as either overweight or obese, the program will target youngsters up to the age of 12, engaging them in noncompetitive games and moderate-to-vigorous exercise. The program should be under way in most Y's by early next month.

"The Healthy U program, we believe, will be New Jersey's first statewide childhood obesity initiative that incorporates objective measures to track results," said William J. Marino, chairman of the foundation board.

YMCA officials, led by University of Texas researchers, will collect baseline data in areas such as body mass index and diet, and survey participants annually to measure the impact of the project.

Yesterday's roll-out was held at the YMCA in Garfield and headlined by a group of energetic 4-year-olds. Staffers said the key is to make the program so fun that children don't realize they're engaging in the kind of physical activity that could help them avoid chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

"I like exercising and playing with Elmo," said Drue Williams, 4, of Garfield, as she played with the Sesame Street character while doing jumping jacks and moving her body to music.

There are three components to Healthy U: physical education, proper nutrition and parental involvement. Under the program, parents will be given healthy, quick recipes they can make at home.

"No one will be left out. Everyone can opt in," said Jonathan Pearson, deputy director of The Horizon Foundation

Garfield Mayor Frank Calandriello applauded what he called the program's "proactive" approach, saying it is important to teach children at an early age about making healthy food choices.

"We have great pools, gymnasiums ... but that alone will not do it," he said.

New Jersey officials decided to implement the program after seeing it in action in Delaware.

"It's allowing the Y to raise its programming to a new and higher level," said William Lovett, chairman of the New Jersey Alliance of YMCAs, who oversees the Y's serving Metuchen, Edison and Woodbridge.

Angela Stewart may be reached at or (973) 392-4178.

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