Children's Hospital: Head to Toe program

Dylan is a 15 year old who has already learned a lot about life. He's learned that if you don't like your situation, do something to change it. That's why each day he gets home from school and gets active by walking his dogs, but he hasn't always been this way.

At the age of 10 he started gaining weight. His dad said he that was a happy kid but a chubby kid. He wasn't your average video playing child, he just had fun with his friends and ate whatever he wanted.

It didn't become a problem until it started to make him unhappy. One day he went to his mom and said that he just wanted to try on a shirt and not have it look bad on him. After hearing her son's unhappiness, she jumped into action.

She talked to his pediatrician and was referred to the "Head to Toe" program at Children's Hospital.

The Head to Toe program targets children in the 85th to 95th percentiles for BMI. Basically it's children that could be classified as overweight.

The program is designed for kids ages 8 to 17, it's a one hour group class each week for 10 weeks and it is led by a dietician and a physical therapist.....Plus, it's for kids and their parents!

The Head to Toe program wants parents involved because they are the ones who go to the grocery store. If the parents are not involved then it will be harder for the lessons the children's learn to stick.

Dylan said that he liked that there were other kids just like him in the class. He said they didn't necessarily focus on them as being fat and needing to loose weight, rather they talked about getting active and living a healthier lifestyle.

They learned tips in class like making school sandwiches at home for lunch because it helps you have more control over what you eat. They also taught them to eat more fruits and vegetables

Dylan said that he instantly started feeling better, he was participating more in school and could concentrate easier.

When the family went to the grocery store they went together and read labels, they counted calories and it worked because everyone was involved.

In fact, it worked so well that mom and dad even lost 20 pounds!

Now Dylan plays on his high school baseball team and he even teaches his friends how to live a healthier lifestyle! All because one day he decided he needed a change from head to toe.

For more information on the Head to Toe program call (314)454-kids or go to:

www.stlouischildrens.org