Keeping fit key factor for continued health

  • Published
  • By Airman Anthony Jennings
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A 2008 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry study revealed overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain more healthful patterns of eating and exercise. 

The U.S. Air Force Services Family Member Programs have an initiative to counteract the findings of that study. The program FitFactor promotes physical activity and healthy eating selections for youth between 6 to 18 years of age. 

FitFactor, created in 2005, focuses on the premise that healthy habits begin in the home. They encourage Air Force families to be active each day and provide youth with a variety of fitness opportunities and healthy nutrition. 

"What's really unique about this program is kids can log in just about anything that involves physical activity or healthy diet," said Terry Evans, Eglin Youth Center sports and fitness director. "They can achieve points by simply doing chores like vacuuming at home or playing dodge ball at school, and then log it in their personal profile online." 

Program participants can go online once a week to log in activities they've done. The list of activities range from aerobics and yard work, to dancing and playing tag. The activities also include nutritional choices like eating healthy snacks instead of junk food. 

"There are literally hundreds of activities that my kids can choose from," said Holly Mensen, a mother of three.  

Each activity is worth 25 or 50 points and is based on the 60-minute activity guidelines recommended by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, an advisory committee of volunteer citizens that advises the President through the Secretary of Health and Human Services about physical activity, fitness, and sports in America. Participants can log up to 100 points a day. 

"I like it because of the responsibility I get to stay healthy," said Jordan Walker, a 15-year-old FitFactor participant. "I like getting fit, and I can keep track of my progress even while I'm studying." 

There are five point levels a youth must reach in order to receive prizes and incentives to encourage them to keep up the good work. The first level, "Energy," is reached after 1,000 points have been logged. The highest level a youth can achieve is "Power," and takes 35,000 points to reach. Participants are rewarded for their progress with prizes like bracelets, dog tags, watches backpacks, T-shirts and much more. 

"Everything is done at home at their leisure," Mr. Evans said. "They only come in to see me when they have reached a new level." 

Parents and youth interested in joining FitFactor may contact the Eglin Youth Center at (850) 883 7425 or visit http://www.afgetfit.com/Home.aspx for more information.