Weight Watchers Family getting healthy

Staff report
The Independent

RUSSELL January 04, 2009 08:12 pm

— Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital will begin a session of Weight Watchers Family at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at Bridges Christian Church in Russell. A free informational session concerning the program will take place at 5:30 p.m. today at the church
Weight Watchers Family, a new family pilot program developed by Weight Watchers International, Inc., focuses on families with the goal of helping them to adopt healthier eating and activity habits and healthier attitudes about weight management.
Children ages 4 through 18 are eligible for the program as long as they meet the criteria of having a BMI at or above the 85th percentile. OLBH will measure height and weight to calculate the BMI at today’s session. As part of Weight Watchers Family, OLBH will offer baseline lab work (lipid profile, glucose and blood pressure) for participants.
“Our goal is for children and families to reduce their risk of illness and disease, such as type II diabetes, associated with obesity,” Diana Williams, OLBH director of Community Resources, said. “Recent statistics have not shed a good light on the health status of our community. We hope this program will change families’ attitudes about weight management, giving them the tools they need to adopt healthy lifestyles.”
There are free scholarships to the program for participants who qualify. The scholarships are possible because of grant funding from the Bon Secours Health System Mission Fund.
To register or for more information, call OLBH’s Healthy Community Services at (606) 833-3397.