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Contact: Donna Mancuso
Public Affairs Manager
(732) 499-6118
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For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Hospital Offers Weight Management Program for Kids, Families at Fitness Center
Rahway – Families battling weight problems in their children now have a sensible, family-centered weight management alternative offered by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway.
SHAPEDOWN®, a leading weight loss and weight management program for children and adolescents, does not rely on rigid or low-calorie diets. Instead, this comprehensive program focuses on overall fitness, blending sensible nutrition, activity and behavior modification with fun.
One of the distinctions of SHAPEDOWN is that involves the entire family, which has been shown to be the most effective strategy in improving weight and increasing exercise habits. Developed by the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, SHAPEDOWN is currently in more than 900 hospitals and private practices in the U.S. and Canada.
The program will be conducted at the RWJ Rahway Fitness & Wellness Center in Scotch Plains.
“SHAPEDOWN is a sensible, comprehensive approach to weight management,” said Lauren Bernstein, MSRD, who leads SHAPEDOWN and the Lighter Lifestyles weight-loss program for adults. “It’s not a fad diet. It doesn’t require special foods. These are skills families can use and continue using.”
The SHAPEDOWN program is led by a nurse, dietitian and exercise physiologist affiliated with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway. The program is developmentally sensitive to the physical, emotional, and social needs of each child’s age group.
SHAPEDOWN is recommended for children age 8 to 15. Because it is family-centered, one or both parents or a guardian must participate in each session. The Fitness Center is located at 2120 Lamberts Mill Road.
The program begins for small groups Thursday, April 10, from 4:30 pm to 6 pm. It is held one day a week for ten weeks. For more information about the program or to make an appointment, call 732-499-6109.
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