Tennessee ranks No. 1 in the nation for the number of children 18 and under with Type 2 diabetes. The state also ranks third for the overall number of people considered obese.
"We've got some issues," Chris Ayers, Bristol Family YMCA chief executive officer, said Thursday at the facility.
The YMCA recently was awarded a $250,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Health to help deal with those issues.
Beginning this fall, the YMCA will partner with Wellmont Health System and Bristol Tennessee City Schools to provide "Project Activate Bristol."
Workshops, presentations, testing and exercise programs will be aimed at identifying at-risk children and providing them and their parents with the education and motivation to fight these two growing epidemics.
"The goal is to work with 100 families and eventually 1,000 kids," Ayers said. "We're going to roll out the red carpet for these families. And we won't have kids in here running on treadmills and lifting weights. We want it to be fun."
Ayers said the youngsters will go through a 10-week program in which they are monitored and encouraged to participate in "active play -- the way we used to play as kids where you're continually moving," Ayers said.
Services will include blood-glucose screenings, health fairs and incentives to keep the schoolchildren motivated.
One form of motivation will be through Fitlinxx technology. Connecticut-based Fitlinxx makes a computerized monitoring system that fits on top of an athletic shoe. The device can calculate the number of steps taken.
"Anyone in the program that registers at least 10,000 steps a day will be eligible to win a new bicycle," Ayers said.
Early detection of Type 2 diabetes can prevent heart attack, stroke and other health problems, said Jim Perkins, Bristol Regional Medical Center director of diabetes treatment.
"About 40 percent to 50 percent of patients that are in BRMC for treatment are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes -- and that's the people that are not there to be diagnosed," Perkins said. "Type 2 used to be called 'adult onset,' but now we're seeing children as young as 8 being diagnosed with it. Typically, Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed in people in their 40s or 50s."
In the last 10 years, the number of people between the ages of 30 to 39 diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes has risen 76 percent, Perkins added.
"That group is smack dab in the middle of our work force, and that's scary," he said. "Preventing this is all about early detection and moderate but steady changes in peoples' lifestyles. Basically, if you exercise more and take in fewer calories, you'll benefit."
The following is an outline of the program:
August: workshops for YMCA staff and BTCS teachers and nurses provided by Wellmont's Diabetes Treatment Center.
September: Wellmont will provide 10-minute programs for parents and students on the emerging health issues linked to diabetes.
September: A YMCA bus will be outfitted as a mobile education and testing unit. It will be staffed by health care professionals.
October: America on the Move, an educational health fair, will be held and include free blood-glucose screenings by the YMCA.
October: Fitlinxx system installed at YMCA and remote access points at each school.
October: YMCA Family Support Program begins. At-risk children will be provided with a one-year membership that includes personal training, seminars and meal planning.
October-November: YMCA after-school program offers kickball, dodge ball and playground activities.
December: School Gym and Swim Days program allows school children to take a field trip to the YMCA.
January: YMCA eight-week Stick to It program. Fitness charts will be placed in every classroom, where daily activities will be recorded.
March: School Gym and Swim Days.
April: Healthy Kids Day will offer swimming lessons and provide youngsters and parents with diabetes screening.
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