JAMESON KIDSHAPE^Ò CLASSES TO PROMOTE HEALTHLY KIDS STARTS MAY 10^TH

New Castle, PA – April 30, 2010 - KidShape is a family based  program that focuses on behavior modification and includes nutrition education, peer discussion, group support, exercise and other fun activities which promote wellness and self-esteem.  The 9-session program is targeted toward children ages 6 – 14 that are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight and whose BMIs are in the 85^th or 95^th percentile according to their age and sex.

The goal of the KidShape program is to promote healthy lifestyles and does not focus on weight directly; however the kids do lose weight.  Eighty-seven percent of the students enrolled lose weight within the first nine weeks of the program.  Parents/guardians have also reported weight loss and often better control of their own illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

The next class is scheduled to begin Monday, May 10^th through June 28^th.   Interested families should contact Charlane Verdi in the Community & Staff Education Department at Jameson Hospital at 724-656-4094 or cverdi@jamesonhealth.org.

All classes meet at the Jameson South Conference Center - located at 1000 S. Mercer Street , New Castle , Pennsylvania - from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This program is co-sponsored by the Jameson Hospital Community and Staff Education Department and The Highmark Foundation.