An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Scott receives gift of health for kids

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Woodward
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The St. Louis Children's Hospital gave Scott the gift of the Head to Toe, a weight management program for kids and teens.

"Head to Toe improves lifestyles by changing nutrition and exercise habits with education," said Pamela Brewer, 375th Medical Group Pediatric Clinic nurse manager.

Head to Toe is a 10-week session led by physical therapists, dieticians and fitness instructors. Sessions last about an hour and a half and are broken up into the age categories of 8-10, 11-13 and 14-17. The sessions are held at the Lincoln 's Landing Community Center . Normally, participants would pay $50, but the St. Louis Children's Hospital covered the cost for this session.

"Obesity is a national epidemic," said Mrs. Brewer. "Children do not move around as much as they used to, instead of riding a bike, they are sitting at home playing videogames. Hopefully, if children are influenced early on, they will not have obesity problems later in life."

Children invited were Scott beneficiaries identified as having a body mass index of 85 percent or higher. Children also required a medical clearance and parental permission to attend.

"Child obesity can lead to Type II diabetes, lack of activity, suffering grades, social impairment, hypertension, high cholesterol and a poor self-image," said Dr. (Maj.) Guy Venuti, 375th MDG Pediatric Clinic element flight chief.

Through the weeks, children will set goals, learn how to prepare healthy food and exercise.

"Children tend to get bored. The program keeps them coming back by offering incentives such as water bottles, pedometers, aprons, cookbooks, t-shirts and backpacks," said Mrs. Brewer.

The program also outreaches to family members as children cannot attend alone.

"It is a family change," said Mrs. Brewer. "The family does the grocery shopping so they have to learn how to make healthier food also."

Scott also has some weight management programs, but none that are in depth as Head to Toe.

"The Head to Toe program works because it is already established, it would require a lot of manning and hours to develop something like that ourselves," said Mrs. Brewer.

The 375th MDG and the St. Louis Children's Hospital are currently in the works of setting up another session of Head to Toe session, so that all of JTF Scott can take part in Head to Toe. The ultimate goal is to make Scott a permanent Head to Toe site.

Anyone interested in the Head to Toe program should contact the St. Louis Children's Hospital at 314-286-0961 or the Pediatric Clinic at 256-7836.