Training programme for obese kids

It’s official, Muscle Zone gym in Greymont is giving obese children an opportunity to get fit.

Overweight children from 11 to 14 years have an opportunity to train for free on a supervised training session with the help of a dedicated personal and group trainer.

“This is a free community fitness project to get our children healthy,” said Muscle Zone owner Colleen Olivier.

“Our pilot project will run from 2pm to 3pm and again from 3pm to 4pm on Fridays, beginning 6 March,” she said.

Olivier highlighted that she was touched when she heard of a nine-year-old who died in a school from sleep apnea caused through being overweight.

“The project is motivated by keeping with the general and growing concerns of child obesity reaching epic proportions in South Africa – one in every five children in South Africa is obese,” she said.

She also added that every health professional body research indicates that this problem is being ignored in South Africa which is making children a target for chronic sickness and disease.

The project will run for three months and it will be fully monitored – the get fit open day is on 21 and 28 February.

What to expect:

• The child will be given a diet programme which must be monitored by the parent.
• The child will also be given a training pattern for home.
• The health and fitness environment will become user friendly to young children.
• During the one hour at the gym the child will not be able to use any electronic equipment like cellphones or Ipads.
• The selection process will be done by interviews.
• Children over 10 kilos over their normal weight according to their height will be selected.
• Children whose parents will actively participate in keeping and monitoring the diet programmes and home routines.

Details: Colleen Olivier 011 477 3666