Care Choices and the City of Ann Arobr Park and Recreation Department Present Free Swimming Every Monday Evening in July

Program aimed at encouraging physical activity among children

Farmington Hills, Mich., June 3, 2003 - Care Choices, the city of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Department, and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports, have teamed up once again to offer free swimming to children. Every Monday evening in July (7, 14, 21, 28), children age 17 and under can swim for free* at the following pools:

*Family swim - children 17 and under must be accompanied by a paid adult
** General swim - children under 10 must be accompanied by someone age 16 years or older

The annual free swim program is part of Care Choices Fit Kids, Healthy Future community-based program aimed at encouraging physical activity among children. Since the program's inception in the year 2000, nearly 10,000 children have taken part in the free programs that help fight what is considered by some experts to be one of the greatest medical risks faced by American children today - childhood obesity. According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 15 percent of children age 6 to 11 are overweight, double the rate of two decades ago. The number of overweight teens now stands at 15 percent, nearly triple the number in the 1970s. In Washtenaw county, the numbers are even higher - more than 25 percent of children age 12-17 are overweight, according to the HIP Survey 2000.

"Overweight children are at risk for high-blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious health problems, "said Gilbert Burgos, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Care Choices. "As a health care organization dedicated to prevention, Care Choices is concerned about this epidemic. We are committed to supporting activities that encourage children to develop and maintain good health habits."

In addition to the free swim program, Care Choices also sponsors a number of youth sports and special events aimed at promoting physical activity and good nutrition for children. Among these activities is the Care Choices Fit Kids, Healthy Future 5K at Kensington Metro Park, in Milford, on Sunday, September 14. The event offers physical activities and fun for the whole family.

Care Choices 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 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).