Healthy Weight and your Child Program

COVID-19 Update on Healthy Weight and Your Child

Program Overview

The YMCA of Honolulu, the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii, and medical partner, Hawaii Pacific Health, are in process of expanding our childhood healthy lifestyles initiatives and offer weight management programs for keiki on Oʻahu.

The Healthy Weight and Your Child program creates a safe, fun and active environment for keiki and families to explore and adapt proven methods to living a healthier lifestyle.

How the program works

Healthy Weight and Your Child empowers keiki ages 7-13 years old, with the support of their families, to reach a healthy weight and live a healthier lifestyle. This four month long, evidence-based, program engages keiki and adult as a pair, so together they can understand how the home environment and other factors influence the choices that lead to a healthy weight. The program emphasizes behavior changes to support healthy eating and physical activity.

The program is delivered by two trained leaders: A Content Leader who delivers the education and nutrition portions of the program; and an Activity Leader who safely leads physical activity. Families will work with their leaders to learn about topics including:

• healthy eating
• physical activity
• portion control
• internal and external triggers
• food label reading
• goal setting and rewards

The 4-month program includes a ʻOhana Information Session and 25 sessions. Families meet twice a week for the first 10 weeks. Afterwards, families meet once a week for five weeks. Classes are two hours long and are made up of eight to fifteen keiki and their parents/caregivers.

How to qualify

In order to qualify for participation in the Healthy Weight and Your Child Program, your keiki must:

• be 7-13 years old
• carry excess weight, with a body mass index (BMI) of the 95th percentile or higher
• receive clearance from a healthcare provider or school nurse to participate in physical activity
• attend all sessions with a parent/caregiver

Why we focus on the whole family

Family participation is crucial to success. Evidence shows that child weight-management programs are more effective when the whole family is involved and committed to adopting healthier habits. For this reason, the program is designed so that adult attendance is required at all sessions.

Locations

• Virtual through Zoom
• Windward, Castle Medical Center
• Town, Nu'uanu YMCA
  
• West O'ahu, Pali Momi Medical Center
• Central O'ahu, Mililani YMCA
  

Currently we are only offering the program virtually. Once we can safely meet in-person again, we plan to offer the program at our in-person locations.

Program fee

The Healthy Weight and Your Child fee is $80/family for the 4 month program. Monthly payment plans are available as well as financial assistance to all that qualify. If cost is a barrier, please speak to us about scholarship opportunities.

How to register

If this program sounds right for you and your keiki, please ask your keiki's health care provider to refer your family via our Healthcare Provider Referral form.

Healthcare Provider Referral

For Providers

If you have any questions about the program please contact the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii at 808-589-5906 or programs@kidneyhi.org