Photo By Marcy Sanchez | Staff members and health educators from the Fort Bliss Army Wellness Center pose for a...... read more read more
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Video games, mobile devices, junk food. These are all choices which, when consumed in abundance, may put youth at risk.
In an effort to combat health risks associated with inactive lifestyles, the Fort Bliss Army Wellness Center is providing health education services to younger, eligible beneficiaries.
“We can see dependents age five and up who are at least 55 lbs.,” said Daryl Stevens, director, AWC, Fort Bliss. “They have to be accompanied by an adult and have a referral from their primary care manager as well.”
According to the Centers for Disease and Control, obesity affects about 12.7 million children and adolescents in the United States. Health issues obesity may trigger include: heart disease, Type two diabetes, asthma and sleeping disorders. Social discrimination may also result from obesity leading to a range of self-esteem, self-image and mental health issues.
“We do a lot of coaching with dependents and their parents to see what it is they enjoy doing, what they’re currently doing and what they’re trying to do (in regards to activities),” said Donald Williams-Gutierrez, health educator, AWC. “With children you have to take a little different approach with them.”
“We try to break it down to their level of understanding. We tell children to be active, go outside as much as you can, play as much as you can,” said Stevens. “We encourage parents to be active as well, get the children out and let them participate in sports.”
Simple tasks such as helping with chores may also improve overall wellness, said Stevens. Activities such as walking the dog or mowing a lawn can contribute to a child’s well-being.
An initial health assessment analyzes health status, risk for disease, and ability to physical activity safely for youths participating at the AWC.
Other services available for youth also include physical fitness level assessment to create a custom-fit exercise program, nutritional education, tobacco education and education on general wellness to include lifestyles, sleep habits, resiliency and self-care.
“A parent may be concerned about their child for a multitude of conditions,” said Stevens.
Past examples of dependents utilizing other AWC services include teenage athletes participating in VO2 sub-max testing, which measures cardiorespiratory fitness, in order to have a measurable means of fitness in improving endurance.
In addition to overall wellness education, the AWC also offers biofeedback testing to assist dependents with identifying and managing stress through relief techniques, positive coping skills and obstacles to self-motivation.
Although the AWC offers a wide variety of services for the whole Army Family, retirees and Army civilians, Stevens advised the example has to start at home for youths.
“What we’ve seen is if a (parent) has a sedentary lifestyle then the child may adopt those habits as well,” said Stevens. “When the kids come in, we try to target the whole family.”
For those worried that a healthier lifestyle means giving up favorite foods, Williams-Gutierrez advised, “You don’t have to cut it out; you just have to balance it out.”
For more information on services available at the AWC call 915-742-9566.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2016 17:34 |
| Story ID: | 215480 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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