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Heart Health Program helps pediatric obesity

Stop by Health 1st’s Wellness Wednesday table in the Children’s Hospital lobby between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. April 2 to receive information on overweight children.

Pediatric obesity is a serious problem  in the United States. Sixteen percent of children 6 to 19 years old are overweight or obese, and overweight adolescents have about a 70 percent chance of becoming obese adults.
 
If you are concerned about your child’s health due to his or her weight, or if you want to know if your child is considered overweight, come to the Wellness Wednesday booth April 2. Information will be available about MUSC's Heart Health Program by coordinator Janet Carter, registered dietitian.
 
If your child doesn’t have a weight problem, but you would like information about healthy habits for the whole family, stop by for general healthy eating and lifestyle tips.
 
The Heart Health Program is the medically supervised pediatric weight management program of MUSC’s Children’s Hospital.
 
Heart Health is a family-centered, lifestyle-focused program that helps overweight children and their families learn healthy and sustainable lifestyle habits. Heart Health includes personalized nutrition education on topics including portion control, label reading, dining out and more. It also includes educational group sessions and an exercise program.
 
To become a part of Heart Health, participants need a doctor's referral. That referral can be faxed to 792-3027. Heart Health can enroll children ages 2 to 20 and can also help children with developmental disabilities such as autism or Down syndrome. For information, call 792-4717 or e-mail catjan@musc.edu.
 
Highlighted Health 1st event
April is the final month of Health 1st’s year long Wellness Team competition. Whether developing a new team, reactivating an old team or continuing a current team Health 1st wants you to join the fun. Teams of 10 will compete during April and Health 1st will track steps taken by every team to see if everyone's steps can go around the world during April. Free pedometers and log books will be provided. For information, contact Health 1st at health1@musc.edu; or call 792-9959 or 792-1245.

Editor's note: The preceding column was brought to you on behalf of Health 1st. Striving to bring various topics and representing numerous employee wellness organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA and UMA employees with current and helpful information concerning all aspects of health.


   

Friday, March 28, 2008
Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.