UnitedHealthcare launches initiative in New Orleans to fight childhood obesity.
Approximately one third of all American children are obese or overweight, and in Louisiana that number is even higher: 47.5 percent. We all know being obese or overweight leads to serious health risks and high medical costs.
UnitedHealthcare is bringing “JOIN for MESM,” a community-based childhood obesity lifestyle intervention program, to Medicaid beneficiaries who live in the New Orleans area. This 12-month program emphasizes whole-family lifestyle and behavior modifications in 16 weekly sessions followed by monthly maintenance classes. In the pilot “JOIN for ME” program, 10 percent fewer of the children who completed the program were obese, and participants’ parents lost weight, too.
Classes will be held at select Boys & Girls Clubs and enrollment is now open. “JOIN for ME” is striving to become a national model for effective, accessible and affordable treatment for childhood obesity.
For more information call (877) 554-3755.
No. 1 Fat Burning Exercise: The Squat Press
Last month we looked at how to properly do The Squat. This month we’re adding weights. By doing so, we have the No. 1 fat burning exercise because it uses every muscle group: legs, arms, shoulders and core. It strengthens while raising your heart rate.
Here is how you do it: Hold weights with feet hip distance apart.
Squat all the way down, touching the weights to the floor while keeping your back straight and your abs contracted. Curl the weights up in a bicep curl, and then press the weights overhead as you push to a standing position. Repeat 10 to 12 times. Remember: keep your abs engaged and use your legs to push yourself up – not your back.
