You already know that kids in the U.S. are getting fatter. And, you know that many fitness centers are reaching out to this market to help improve the health of these children, and the country as a whole. Three fitness centers, in particular, are offering programs to help children stay fit, lose weight and improve body image - all in a fun atmosphere! This summer, the Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center, Plainview, N.Y., is offering a new summer camp called Tween Adventures in Fitness. It is designed specifically for boys and girls ages 11 to 13 who want to achieve a healthy lifestyle and body image, says Marketing Director Amy R. Manheim.

A team of social workers, exercise physiologists, recreation specialists, nutritionists and camp counselors will offer programs in nutrition, recreation, weight training and aerobic activities. The camp will include fitness classes, recreational challenges, outdoor activities, field trips and swimming. Camperswill also learn how to make healthy food choices by preparing their own wholesome daily meals and snacks.

In a different approach to helping children stay fit, Anatomies, a fitness facility in Hattiesburg, Miss., opened its Youth Fitness Center in January. This exercise area was designed especially for children ages six to 13. It is furnished with resistance and cardio equipment for kids, a rock climbing wall, a Sportwall, interactive PlayStation games (Snowboarding and Dance Dance Revolution), basketball/multipurpose area and a study room. According to Toni Bailey, front desk director and a group fitness instructor, since the Youth Fitness Center opened, Anatomies has seen an increase in family memberships, both new memberships and individuals going to family rates. “We pride ourselves on being the best in town, and this helps to raise our level of service because this is the only children’s facility in our area,” Bailey says.

To show that there are countless ways to help children say fit and healthy, KettleBell Concepts, New York, N.Y., and Aces Tennis Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska, Baton Rouge, La., and Biloxi, Miss., teamed up to design a Kettlebell training program specifically for children. Thomas L. d’Aquin, tennis pro and president of the Aces Tennis Foundation, founded the foundation with a mission to help disadvantaged children learn to play tennis and how to stay fit. Trying to break out of his own training plateau, d’Aquin discovered that Kettlebells are ideal not only for tennis improvement, but for overall conditioning.

While working on a plan with Gulf region casinos to help repair hurricane-damaged public tennis facilities, he came up with the idea to establish Kettlebell training programs for children in the region.

d’Aquin is working with various associations in Mississippi and Louisiana to find sponsorships to outfit his Aces Tennis Foundation with Kettlebells, and to tailor the training specifically for kids. “I’m also working with KettleBell Concepts of New York on tailoring the current Kettlebell training protocols that are more geared for adults, to be apropos for kids, kindergarten through sixth grade. The ultimate goal is to show the educators and physical trainers in the Gulf area the advantage of Kettlebells, as opposed to [the] typical weight training that we’ve grown up with.” Says Dave Ganulin, CEO of KettleBell Concepts, “We look forward to supporting [d'Aquin] in his efforts to adapt Kettlebell training to a youth level, not only for tennis improvement, but for all-around physical fitness for these kids.” The Kettlebell training will be for both tennis-specific sports improvement and general physical fitness. As you can see, children’s fitness can take on many forms, as long as the kids are having fun and staying active.