On the MEND from Childhood Obesity

HOUSTON - Houston has consistently ranked as one of the fattest cities in the country and September is "Childhood Obesity Awareness Month."

A new program has shown positive results and it's open to Houston-area children.

The MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It) Foundation has teamed up with YMCAs around the country to offer a free 10 week course for children between the ages of 7 and 13.

"They would tease me cause they thought I was fat and I didn't feel good about myself." Jeremiah Sutton remembers.

He is just 8-years-old. But he felt left out because he didn't have any friends.

Then he entered the MEND program. He switched out sodas for water. He had yogurt instead of ice cream. He got up and active.

Like nearly 80 percent of children in the program, he dropped his body mass index.

Andrea Leal held back tears while talking about her son, Jeremiah.

She says both sides of the family have struggled with obesity and the health risks: high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes.

"I didn't know how he was affected emotionally. I didn't know that it bothered him about how people looked at him. I didn't know that he had some concerns about the way he felt about himself."

But now that third grader has completed the program.

"I see a guy that's more fit, more muscle and I was happy. Once I saw myself in the mirror, I got so happy."

Lisa Lemkowitz found what she was doing just wasn't working for her 3 children.

"It was me saying that's not healthy. Don't eat that. In MEND, the children are given the knowledge. They go out. They learn to read labels. They learn about refined foods versus unrefined and the decision is theirs."

Elizabeth knows her mother won't always be with her.

She realizes that in the land of dollar menus and crash diets, she needs to look at the big picture, even if she is only in the 6th grade.

"It's not necessarily about your weight. It’s about health. They're very different. Your weight is what they see. Your health is what's inside."

Elizabeth describes completing the course as "crossing the finish line."

"On the outside I see someone who looks happier and looks like they enjoy life more and can go out and not be worried about the day ahead of them. Inside, I feel like I've made an accomplishment."

Right now, 6 YMCA locations in the area offer the program.

Organizers hope to increase that number to 9 by January. Registration is currently underway.

For more information, you can call 713-659-5566 or visit MEND at the following web link: http://www.ymcahouston.org/health-wellness-youth-family/