STOP taking on pounds
Start living a healthier lifestyle
STOP is a weight management program for school-aged children and adolescents. By learning more about:
• eating right
• exercising, and
• choosing healthy lifestyles, children and adolescents can reach their weight management goals.
STOP improves physical and emotional health for the whole family
Stop taking on pounds, and start living a healthy, active lifestyle. STOP is a program developed to guide and support children and their families as they cope with weight management issues.
Weight management issues include being overweight, gaining more weight than your health professional recommends, choosing unhealthy foods for snacks and meals, and not exercising, all issues that can lead to long-term physical and emotional problems.
Now you can change this future for your children. S.T.O.P. uses a family approach to weight management. For 12 weeks, participants ages 7 to 17 attend weekly sessions with at least one parent.
In an outpatient group setting, health professionals work with families to understand how to manage weight with nutrition, exercise, and behavior management. With the guidance of our health professionals and the support of a positive environment, your child can become physically and emotionally healthier.
Nutrition
Eating right. Reaching goals.
A dietitian will work with families to develop customized nutrition plans. By following the plan, participants consume fewer calories while eating healthy foods. To create this nutrition plan, the dietitian will discuss with families:
- Eating every meal, especially breakfast
- Making wise food choices
- Portioning foodIncreasing fruit and vegetables in the family’s diet
- Distinguishing physical hunger from psychological hunger
- Establishing an environment supportive of healthy eating habits
With the customized nutrition plan, families can reach their weight management goals while feeling healthier and more energized.
Exercise
Increasing fitness and feeling good.
A health professional will work with families to design exercise programs that meet the unique needs of overweight children and adolescents. This program begins with a comprehensive exercise evaluation. Then a health professional will prescribe a training program that adjusts as participants lose or maintain weight and increase their fitness.
During weekly class sessions, participants will engage in moderate-intensity exercise, which includes fun activities and encourages free play. They are also encouraged to participate in physical activities throughout the week.
Behavior management
Promoting health in the family.
For this part of the program, families will learn how to become aware of their eating and activity behaviors, gain control over these behaviors, and choose eating and exercise habits that promote long-term health. Participants will begin by learning what behaviors trigger unhealthy eating habits. Then a health professional will work with families to set goals and develop strategies for building a healthy lifestyle. Some of the strategies include:
- Keeping records of exercise and food selection
- Setting and keeping limits on eating habits
- Substituting unhealthy habits with positive behaviors
- Being healthy role models for the family
- Rewarding healthy behaviors with social praise and appropriate incentives
By promoting healthy lifestyles as a family, children can achieve their weight management goals while building self-esteem and improving their health.
Program cost
The program has an initial one-time assessment fee of $80. This charge will be billed to your insurance company or Medicaid.
The cost of the program is underwritten by Reid Hospital Foundation.
STOP’s team
Members of the staff will lead sessions on nutrition, exercise and promoting healthy behaviors.
- Program Facilitator
Christie Ferriell, RD, CD
Certified by the American Dietetic Association in Pediatric and Adolescent Weight Management Pending ACSM Health and Fitness Certified Instructor - Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Mary Folkerth, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC - Registered Dietitians
Michelle McClurg, MA, RD, CD, CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator)
Certified by the American Dietetic Association in
Pediatric and Adolescent Weight Management
Kris Ankeny, MS, RD, CD
Certified by the American Dietetic Association in
Pediatric and Adolescent Weight Management - Medical Advisor
Paul S. Rider, MD, FAAP
The STOP Program is a result of the efforts of the Whitewater Valley Childhood Obesity Task Force, a group that includes physicians, school nurses, dietitians, pediatric nurse practitioners, and wellness, fitness, and youth services professionals.
Nutrition/Diabetes Education
phone: 765-983-3423
fax: 765-983-7924
