Children Adopting Adequate Meals and Play (CAAMP), a new weight-control program that emphasizes increased exercise and improved nutrition for adolescents and their families, will be offered by the DeKalb County Board of Health.

Research consistently shows that long-term weight maintenance is nearly impossible without increased exercise and improved nutrition. According to a recent study, children who develop risk factors for coronary artery disease and stroke tend to stay in the same high-risk group into adulthood. Risk factors include high cholesterol, obesity, elevated blood pressure, physical inactivity and smoking. This same study confirms that structured, frequent learning and physical activities with school aged children can significantly lessen these factors.

The CAAMP program will begin on January 15 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Board of Health’s three adolescent health centers. Classes will meet weekly for ten weeks and will be led by trained nutritionists, physical activity instructors, health educators and therapists.

Although most of the sessions involve exercise, there also will be presentations on such topics as vitamin and mineral supplements, maintaining weight loss, substituting herbs and spices for salt, understanding nutrition labels, reducing fat in recipes and the importance of calcium in the diet.

Participants also will be encouraged to meet informally between the weekly sessions to walk together.

For more information, call (404) 370-7360 x321. The deadline for enrollment is January 4.

12/14/01