A unique partnership between The Children’s Center at Mercy Hospital and the YMCA of Greater Des Moines brought the Trim Kids™ program to Des Moines. The program was first offered by a local medical clinic through the efforts of an area pediatrician and an emergency room physician. The two doctors investigated weight loss programs targeted at children after recognizing the need for such intervention in their patients. Upon discovering the Trim Kids™ book, the doctors contacted the authors for permission to implement the program in Des Moines. Partnering with the hospital four months were devoted to program development, training of administrators and researchers, and recruitment of volunteers.
The pilot program was introduced in 2004, funded with grants from the Midwest Dairy Association, Black Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Center. Potential participants and their families were recruited from physician’s offices or identified by school nurses. Participants had to be in the 95th or higher weight percentile for their age and gender. Twenty-nine children were enrolled in the program and the 24 who completed the sessions together lost nearly 200 pounds.
After learning of the program at a meeting dedicated to the county’s health initiative, the YMCA’s Riverfront branch worked to bring the program to its community. A partnership was forged and the first session was offered in January 2005. Thirteen families from the pilot program participated in the inaugural session. Sessions run for 13 weeks, with classes meeting on Saturdays for 1½ hours. At least one parent or guardian is required to attend the sessions with their child. Participants must have physician approval prior to attending. Class size is limited to 35 students. Registration fees are $20 per family and scholarships are available.
Trim Kids™ gives participants tools for long-term healthy living by providing easy, kid-friendly recipes, simple exercise, and tips for parents on how to encourage kids to stick with healthy behaviors and habits. Each meeting is divided into four sections:
Kids are divided into groups based on age for the second and third activity sections while their parents meet together as a group during this hour. Sessions also include weekly weigh-in, breakout activities, nutritious snacks, guest speakers, and field trips. For instance, one group outing was a visit to a local grocery store to identify healthy foods. The weekly weigh-in session is used to measure progress with emphasis on BMI, not strictly weight loss. Participants and their parents are asked to keep an “Active Diary” documenting food consumption, activity levels and TV viewing. Celebrating success has been an integral part of the program.
Results
The staff reported the following outcomes at the end of the 12-week pilot program session:
Staff stresses that while initial weight loss can serve as motivation, the focus is on modifying behaviors that result in healthy long-term lifestyle changes. The overall objective is to lower BMIs and encourage lifestyle changes. Re-enrolling in the program is encouraged and, with this in mind, each session is designed to be different. On average, 8 to 10 families re-enroll upon completion. To help families incorporate activity into their lives, YMCA family memberships are offered to participants for the length of the program session.
Based on these successes and high demand for the program, Trim Kids™ is now offered at both the Riverfront and Grubb YMCAs in Des Moines. The program is also part of the Activate America Initiative, a YMCA program to improve the nation’s health.
In addition to in-kind donations and grants from the sponsors, support has also been provided by Hy-Vee, a Midwest supermarket chain, and other local businesses. The partnership network now includes the Iowa State University Department of Health and Human Performance. Professors and graduate students at the University developed “Fit Kids,” based on Trim Kids™, after recognizing the need for such a program. Staff felt the University’s urban setting in Ames contributed to the high incidence of childhood obesity in the region. The program meets three times a week for twelve weeks. Program components include gym and pool activities, nutrition education for both parents and kids, and exercises promoting healthier decision making skills. Recognizing that many potential participants are of lower incomes, program scholarships are available and, for each week, a portion of the registration fee is returned to those students who attend all sessions.
Lessons Learned
Trim Kids™ staff has found the partnership between the hospital and the YMCA to be critical in the program’s success. Many of the program instructors come from the hospital, bringing credibility to the nutrition and physical activity components, and the YMCA facilities offer a home for the program and a place for families to remain active. Also contributing to the program’s success was the creation of a steering committee composed of YMCA and hospital staff, public school health services officials, and representatives from the county health department.
One of the barriers staff has encountered is getting families to commit to all 13 weeks of the program. They have found that by keeping the programming exciting they are able to keep attendance levels high. Family involvement has proven to be crucial in implementing healthy lifestyle changes. The complimentary YMCA membership helps to address this. Grant funding has kept program costs low and the scholarship fund allows any family to participate.
Strengths
Innovative Ideas
Implementation
Resources
Children and Weight: What Communities Can Do, Berkeley, CA: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2002. Includes resource manual, video, and CD-ROM (NAL Call Number: Kit no. 427). This kit is designed for use by community leaders interested in developing an action plan to prevent and reduce the incidence of childhood obesity. It provides information on prevalence, strategies for prevention, and tips for how to mobilize community resources.
To Order:
ANR Communication Services
6701 San Pablo Avenue
Oakland, CA 94608
Phone: (510) 642-2431
(800) 994-8849
Fax: (510) 643-5470
Online: anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/merchant.ihtml? pid=5523&
lastcatid=349&step=4
Fed Up! Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity, Susie Okie, M.D. Joseph Henry Press, 2005. 322 p. ISBN: 0-3090-9310-4 ($27.95).
Purchase of book and completion of course counts towards 10 Continuing Education Credits for Dietetics professionals
Trim Kids™: The Proven 10-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight, Melinda S. Sothern, et al. Collins Publishers, Inc., 2003. 416p. ISBN 0-0609-3417-4
http://www.numedix.com/TrimKidsTM.html
YMCA Activate America Initiative
www.ymca.net/activateamerica/
Contacts
Fit Kids
Iowa State University, Ames
Phone: (515) 294-2953
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Section of Health Promotion
1600 Canal Street, Suite 800
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 831-0972
Fax: (504) 568-6905
Riverfront YMCA
101 Locust Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 471-8545
www.dmymca.org/branch/index.asp?bid=3
