Care Choices and St. Mary Mercy Hospital Host Day of Family Fun and Fitness

Farmington Hills, Mich., March 13, 2006—With an estimated one in five children overweight in the U.S., it’s more important than ever for parents to teach their kids healthy habits early on.  In an effort to encourage families to live a healthy lifestyle, Care Choices is teaming up with St. Mary Mercy Hospital and the Livonia Recreation Center to offer free fitness activities and health education on Sunday, April 2, from noon until 4 p.m.

During the Fit Families, Healthy Future event, kids and their parents can explore the water playground, complete with lazy river and 250’ water slide; face the challenge of the climbing wall (from 1 to 3 p.m. only); run around the indoor track and gym; and discover the giant indoor play structure.  There will also be games and prizes, healthy snacks, and children can test their knowledge of healthy eating.  Medical professionals from St. Mary Mercy Hospital and Care Choices will also offer free body mass index (BMI) checks and blood pressure screenings. 

All 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.  Children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult.  Admission is free for adults who show their Care Choices or Preferred Choices member ID card.  Admission for all other participating adults is $3.

Childhood obesity is linked to an increased incidence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.  If left untreated, health problems can carry into adulthood, causing heart disease, stroke and other ailments stemming from excess weight.

The number of overweight children worldwide is projected to increase significantly by the end of the decade.  According to a report published by the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, nearly half of the children in North and South America will be overweight by 2010.  That number is up from one-third, according to recent studies.

The Livonia Recreation Center is located at 15100 Hubbard, one half mile east of Farmington Road, south of Five Mile.  Bring a swimsuit, towel, play clothes, socks and sneakers.  For more information, call (800) 852-9780.

About Care Choices

Care Choices is a health benefits management company 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 healthcare coverage to thousands of members throughout Michigan. The Care Choices suite of products includes Care Choices HMO, Care Choices PPO, Preferred Choices PPO and consumer-directed plans.  Care Choices offers a broad, fully integrated network of physicians, hospitals and other healthcare 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). Care Choices HMO was the top-rated commercial health plan in Michigan, according to “U.S. News & World Report/NCQA America’s Best Health Plans, 2005.”

About St. Mary Mercy Hospital

St. Mary Mercy Hospital is a 304-bed community hospital that provides acute-care medical and health services including: medical/surgical care, intensive/cardiac care, oncology/radiation therapy, maternity, women’s health, diagnostic services, physical medicine and rehabilitation, behavioral medicine, child care, 24-hour emergency care, Fast Track and community health education.  St. Mary Mercy Hospital is a member of Trinity Health.