Care Choices Offers Free Healthy Activities for Kids

Fit Kids, Healthy Future activity aimed at fighting childhood obesity

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., March 9, 2004 - To encourage kids to exercise more than just their joystick thumbs, Care Choices HMO is teaming up with the Livonia Community Recreation Center to offer free fitness activities on Sunday, April 25 from noon until 5 p.m. Through the Care Choices Fit Kids, Healthy Future program, youths ages 17 and under can participate for free in this event, which is endorsed by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports.

Kids and their parents will be able to explore the water playground, complete with a lazy river and 250' water slide; face the challenges offered by the climbing wall (1 to 3 p.m. only); run around the indoor track and open gym (2 to 3 p.m. only); and discover the twists and turns of the giant indoor play structure. There will also be games, prizes and healthy snacks. Medical professionals at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia will provide body mass index checks and blood pressure screenings. Care Choices HMO members are invited to show their ID card to receive a special gift.

"Care Choices focuses on making a difference in the health and well-being of the communities we serve," said Gilbert Burgos, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer of Care Choices. "Encouraging children to exercise helps promote the importance of physical fitness and reduces childhood obesity, which can lead to serious health complications."

The latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that among children and teens ages 6-19, 15 percent (almost 9 million) are overweight, or triple what the proportion was in 1980. According to the CDC, obesity increases a person's risk for a number of serious conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and some types of cancer. Studies show that vigorous exercise burns calories to help fight obesity. Other benefits of regular physical activity are enhanced academic performance, creativity and imagination and a positive self-image.

The Livonia Community Recreation Center is located at 15100 Hubbard, a half mile east of Farmington/ south of Five Mile. Bring a swimsuit, towel, play clothes and sneakers.

Care Choices HMO is a nonprofit health care organization and a subsidiary of Trinity Health, one of the nation's leading providers of health care services. Since 1986, Care Choices has been providing quality health care to its thousands of members throughout Michigan. Care Choices offers a broad, fully integrated network of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals all sharing a strong commitment to improving the health status of the communities it serves by delivering effective and affordable health care. Care Choices HMO maintains the highest rating available of Excellent by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and holds a B+ financial-strength rating from A.M. Best Co .