UNC Asheville Tackles Growing Problem of Obesity;
"GIFT" Program to Help Families Fight Fat and Get Fit Together

UNC Asheville is offering help in the fight against obesity with “Getting into Fitness Together” (GIFT), a new seven-week program designed to help families reach fitness goals creatively. The physical fitness program for children ages 7 to 11 and their families features a variety of activities, from relay races to “Muggle Quidditch,” designed to promote the enjoyment of active movement.

A brainchild of UNC Asheville professor Melissa Himelein, GIFT was made possible with funds from the Bremen Professorship, a two-year, $8,000 fund that helps social science professors implement a project unrelated to traditional teaching activities. Himelein was inspired to create the fitness program by her own experience as a health psychologist and mother.

“I have been amazed as a parent to see how hard it is to encourage kids to be physically active,” said Himelein, the mother of eight-year-old twins. “The indoors beckon so much more than the outdoors do these days.”

GIFT sessions will take place on the UNC Asheville campus from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays from March 13 to April 26. Children’s activities are designed to foster a positive attitude toward physical games and outdoor play. Parents will simultaneously be involved in an individualized program of walking or jogging, aerobic games and stretching. Each week, participants will also be given a “homework” activity that all family members can participate in.

“If a child is overweight, there has to be a family response,” said Himelein. “No child 12 or under is going to get themselves out to exercise or eat nutritious meals. A family has to approach it as a family if things are going to change.”

The program pairs each family with a UNC Asheville student who will work one-on-one with family members. Students range from athletes to future elementary school teachers and all have an interest in health promotion. With an emphasis on psychological well-being, the program is intended to foster a positive attitude towards personal wellness and health.

“We’ll use psychology in terms of working with people in sensitive, helpful ways,” Himelein said. “There’s a pretty strong relationship between mood and aerobic activity. We will put a premium on activities being fun and noncompetitive, keeping people happy, and getting them active.”

Childhood obesity is on the rise nationwide and is a particular problem in Western North Carolina. In Buncombe County, 20.8 percent of children 2 to 19 are classified as overweight, some four percent above state average, according to data collected at local health departments in 2003. Nationwide, 16 percent of children are overweight, more than double the amount 20 years ago. For the first time in history, statistics show that children today are not expected to live longer than their parents due to the growing problem of childhood obesity.

Participating in UNC Asheville’s GIFT program is one active step in the right direction. Families struggling with weight issues or that want to become fitter may register for the program. Children cannot participate unless at least one parent is involved. Free childcare for children too young to participate will be provided. Registration is $35. As an incentive, the registration fee will be fully refunded to those who complete the program.

For more information or to register, call Melissa Himelein, UNC Asheville psychology professor, at 828/251-6834.

Media Contacts:

• Dr. Melissa Himelein, UNC Asheville Professor of Psychology, 828/251-6834
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526