Creating Healthier Oc Communities

March 16, 2015 - PRLog -- The YMCA of Orange County has pioneered a unique program to fight childhood obesity, an epidemic affecting 33.3% of Orange County’ student population. The program is called Earn a Bike and its purpose is to increase the amount of physical activity performed by elementary school-aged children and improve nutritional content of their diets in order to lower the rate of childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in our community.

The eight week program, which is offered at elementary schools selected based on need,  consists of exercises & physical education classes (3x per week) including team sport skills, yoga, soccer, and obstacle courses, and nutrition classes (1x per week) for both participants and their parent. All exercise activity is charted and milestones are recognized on a weekly basis. The program culminates with a graduation ceremony where students who completed the program requirements receive a new bicycle, helmet, and lock to continue physical activity at home and in their community.

Childhood obesity continues to rise in our communities, with lower-class economic groups being highly affected by this epidemic. Many of the schools selected for this program have had their physical education courses cut down to as little one hour every two weeks. Lack of physical education and opportunity for physical activity in schools, especially low income schools, is contributing to the obesity and health epidemic in our communities and in our country.

The YMCA of Orange County previously launched two pilot sessions of Earn A Bike (EAB) program at Whittier Elementary school in Costa Mesa, CA in 2013; and in Mission Viejo in Spring 2014. The pilot EAB program results showed lowered Body Mass Index rates by an average of 4.22% in an 8 week period. Parents reported an 81% increase in substituting healthier choices in their cooking for participants after the family nutrition classes. Based on these results, the YMCA has actively pursued funding to expand the program to serve even more children and families in 2015.

“The YMCA of Orange County believes that these solutions must be community-wide collaborations and consider cultural and environmental factors such as poverty, access to parks and recreation, access to healthy foods, advocacy for proper funding of physical education in schools, and cultural differences in food preference or traditions” says Jeff McBride, the YMCA of Orange County’s Chief Operating Officer.

The 2015 sessions of Earn A Bike are currently being funded by caring organizations like Edwards Life Sciences Fund, The Salah Foundation, and the Pacific Life Foundation.

Learn more about Earn a Bike and hear firsthand stories from the children at ymcaoc.org/earn-a-bike

Earn a Bike Sessions Currently in Progress:

March 16- April 8 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday)

Whittier Elementary School, Costa Mesa (1800 Whittier Ave. Costa Mesa, CA 92627)

Sepulveda Elementary School, Santa Ana (1801 S Poplar St, Santa Ana, CA 92704)

Thanks to our donors, volunteers, and members participating in Earn A Bike. We are looking forward to another successful session.