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ABC Channel 7 Eyewitness News Covers Childhood Obesity Program in Paterson
Dr. Sapna Parikh reports from Public School 5 in Paterson where the school is trying a new approach, this time the parents are required to be involved.
These middle school students at Public School 5 are getting fitness and health tests. They are kicking off a new after school wellness program called RUSH which stands for Reaching Ultimate Student Health.
"The thing that makes this program different is that we do ask that the parents are involved." Registered dietitian and exercise physiologist Dr. Jamie Pula, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, says parental perception plays a huge role in childhood obesity. "If a parent doesn't realize that a child has a weight management concern or issue than whatever we try to do with the child is not going to work out."
For the next 12 weeks the students will have sessions after school where they will learn about nutrition and exercises they can do on their own. Once a month they'll have a family social event where parents and their kids come to the school, get a healthy meal and a lesson on topics such as 'How to eat healthy on a budget'.
The program was inspired by first lady Michelle Obama's health initiatives and is paid for primarily by grants and doesn't cost the school anything.
The program ends on May 17th when the school will survey the parents to see what they've learned and see if their perceptions have changed. If the program is successful and there is funding they hope to expand to other schools and maybe even be a model for schools nationwide.
