FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE WEST SUBURBAN YMCA AND NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL PARTNER TO HELP FIGHT CHILDHOOD OBESITY WITH "MOVE IT TO LOSE IT" PROGRAM

NEWTON, Mass. (July 28, 2009) – A comprehensive weight-management partnership between the West Suburban YMCA and the Newton-Wellesley Hospital, called Move It to Lose It, will be offered in the fall of 2009. The partnership aims to help youth and teens (ages 11-17) incorporate the nutritional aspects of weight management with physical activity to fight obesity.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost one in five children and adolescents in this country are overweight. Childhood obesity has literally become an epidemic. Overweight children are at greater risk for high cholesterol and high blood pressure and are more likely to suffer from heart disease as they age. Children who are overweight are also more likely to have low self esteem and develop morbid obesity as adults.

West Suburban YMCA President and CEO, Pat Palmer, said “Newton-Wellesley Hospital and the West Suburban YMCA are both cornerstones of our community. We are honored to partner with the hospital to fight the growing problem in our community of childhood obesity.”

Move It to Lose It combines regular meetings with the physicians at Newton-Wellesley Hospital with group fitness classes by qualified coaches at the West Suburban YMCA’s modern facility once or twice a week. The seven week program will provide youth with ways to “move” in a non-competitive and fun environment. The program stresses cardiovascular health, strength training, and stretching. It will introduce participants to physical activities like zumba dance, kickboxing, cycling, weight lifting, and circuit training. Plus, the Move It to Lose It program includes tools to use at home to track progress, like an activity calendar, incentive prizes, easy-to-make recipes with nutrition information, and access to an interactive blog where participants can receive weekly fitness tips and talk to peers online.

According to Jennifer L. Rosenblum, M.D., Medical Director, Children’s Weight Management Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, “I am very excited about this joint venture with the West Suburban YMCA! It is a wonderful opportunity for my patients and the community to help with weight management and encourage ongoing fitness.”

To register or for more information, please contact the West Suburban YMCA’s Fitness Director, Jane Carroll, at 617-244-6050, ext. 3007 or jcarroll@westsuburbanymca.org. The Move It to Lose It program is open to all adolescents fighting obesity and membership in the West Suburban YMCA is not a requirement.

About the West Suburban YMCA

The West Suburban YMCA, located in Newton, Massachusetts, is a nonprofit community service organization made possible because of charitable donations, member support, and dedicated volunteers. The YMCA is devoted to the education, physical health, mental well-being and moral development of children, families, and communities. The Y strives to incorporate all its programs with the core values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility. Founded in 1877, the West Suburban YMCA has over 13,000 members and program participants, and serves the communities of Newton, Watertown, Belmont, Wellesley, and Weston with day and resident camps in Newton, Wayland, and East Brookfield, MA. For more information, please visit www.westsuburbanymca.org or contact Lisa LaVallee, Assistant Director of Marketing, at 617-244-6050, ext. 3036.

About the Mass General for Children Weight Management Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital

The Mass General for Children Weight Management Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital is a consultation service for adolescent and young adult patients (ages 12-25) with obesity. The Program Team provides evaluation and ongoing management of patients’ weight and weight-related co-morbidities. Treatment options offered in the program include behavioral modification (individualized nutritional counseling, group drop-in nutrition sessions), weight loss medications, referral for weight loss surgery when appropriate, and peri-operative management.

Newton-Wellesley Hospital, a full system member of Partners HealthCare System, Inc. (PHCS), provides a wide range of services, including medical, surgical, obstetrical, orthopaedic, pediatric and psychiatric care. Newton-Wellesley has been serving its community for over a century. The medical staff of the Hospital includes nearly 1,000 physicians practicing a full range of specialties. NWH is a major teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine and also has established post-graduate training programs for Harvard Medical School residents.

For more information about our services, specialties, free health screenings, lectures and other events, become a fan of the Hospital on Facebook www.nwh.org/facebook,  watch our videos on YouTube www.nwh.org/youtube, learn more about us on Wikipedia www.nwh.org/wikipedia and follow us on Twitter www.nwh.org/twitter. 

CONTACT:
Rachel Kagno
Public Affairs & Marketing
Newton-Wellesley Hospital
617-243-6528
rkagno@partners.org