Kyle McInnis, Sc'D' FACSM

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Promoting Routine Physical Activity and Healthy
Weight for Youth
Introducing An Innovative Program Model for
YMCAs, Fitness Clubs, and Schools

• Kyle McInnis, Sc.D. FACSM
• University of Massachusetts Boston
• Dept. Of Exercise and Health Sciences

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Addressing overweight and low levels of physical
activity and fitness is now a major priority in
the US,

. . . and a rapidly growing area in the health
and fitness marketplace and schools.
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Childhood obesity now threatens nearly one in
three kids in the US, with no signs of slowing.

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Percentage of Kids Seriously Overweight in US
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Percentage of Overweight U.S. Children and
Adolescents
16
16
14
12
10
Ages 12-19
8
6
5
4
4
Ages 6-11
2
0
2002
1963-70
1971-74
1976-80
1988-94
1999
gt95th percentile for BMI by age and sex based
on 2000 CDC BMI-for-age growth charts. Data
are from 1963-65 for children 6-11 years of age
and from 1966-70 for adolescents 12-17 years of
age Source National Center for Health
Statistics
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Impact of Obesity in Kids

• Approximately 60 of overweight youth have at
  least 1 risk factor for future cardiovascular
  disease, and 25 have 2 or more of these risk
  factors.

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Consequences

• If childhood obesity continues to increase, it
  could cut two to five years from the average
  lifespan.
• That could cause our current generation of
  children to become the first in American history
  to live shorter lives than their parents.

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Loss of Spontaneous Physical Activity

• One-half of young people do not regularly
  participate in vigorous physical activity.

One-third do not participate in any vigorous PA!
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Decreased PE in Schools
Daily PE exists at only 8 of U.S. elementary
schools, 6.4 of middle schools and 5.8 of high
schools. Institute of Medicine, 2004
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Source of the Problem

• Increased television viewing and/or screen time

Avg 8.5 hours per day!
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• Amount of fast food consumption by children has
  increased fivefold in the past 30 years.
• On average, children ages 11-18 eat at fast-food
  restaurants twice a week.

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SolutionsYouth Health and Fitness and New PE
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Youth Fitness Programs

• Appealing
• Accessible
• Affordable

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Virtual Gym

• Provide an innovative program model that could be
  replicated and sustained for widespread
  distribution in YMCAs, fitness clubs, and
  schools.

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Program Description

• Weekly education classes
• Review key dietary message for the week
• Review key physical activity message
• Weekly group exercise class
• Personal journals
• Pedometers
• Incentive prizes (tee shirts/back packs)

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VIRTUAL GYM
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Physical Activity During Virtual Gym Class (60
mins.)
gt60 Maximal Heart Rate
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Preliminary Findings

• Over 250 kids enrolled!
• Overweight
• Inactive
• Diverse races/ethnicities and socioeconomic
  backgrounds

• Approximately 80 adherence !! (National
  Average lt50)
• Positive trends in self-reported PA and diet
• Program satisfaction Extremely high!

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Local and National Publicity!
Worcester Telegram and Gazette
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VIRTUAL GYM

• Reproducible model for
• YMCAs / Fitness Clubs
• Community Centers
• Schools

FUTURE DIRECTIONS Turn-Key Equipment and Program
Solutions Marketing and Sales