New Program Teaches Local Teens Healthy Living

Muskegon, MI (January 11, 2008) — Today, over seventeen percent of adolescents in the United States are overweight – a number that has tripled over the past two decades. Risk factors for heart disease such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes (previously considered an adult disease) are becoming more and more prevalent in overweight teens.

In an effort to bring awareness to these alarming statistics and improve the overall health of our community, Mercy Health Partners’ Center for Weight Management is introducing Teens on the Move; a health and wellness program designed specifically for teens age 13 to 18.

“The Teens on the Move program is a 10-week, fun and interactive program designed to teach lifelong healthy lifestyle habits to teens utilizing behavioral changes and goal setting. The classes are designed just for teens, with fun interactive activities led by an interdisciplinary faculty. Topics include nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle modification,” says Blair Moreau, Mercy H.E.A.R.T. Center manager. The curriculum is taken from the “Eat Fit” program designed by the University of California-Berkley.

The Teens on the Move concept is designed to impact the entire family. The teens are likely to impact the family by modeling healthy behaviors. At the completion of the program, a grand prize is awarded to the most successful participant.

Teens on the Move begins at the Mercy H.E.A.R.T. Center on January 21 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Teens participating in Teens on the Move need medical clearance from their physician. The program includes a $100 fee, which covers expenses for ten classes and all materials.

Mercy is the specialty referral hospital along the lakeshore. Mercy ’s services include heart and vascular, emergency services, cancer care, orthopedic and spine surgery, urology, bariatric services, a primary care network, nephrology, ENT, laboratory, palliative care and rehabilitation. Mercy specializes in a variety of areas through specialized institutes and centers where physicians and staff work collaboratively to provide excellent care to patients. Some of these centers include the Heart and Vascular Institute, the Centers for Women’s Health, the Center for Weight Management, the Imaging Center of Excellence and a state-of-the-art Emergency Center.