Catch The Wave
MANATEE COUNTY STUDENTS
8
WORDS: Amy Bell
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
M ore than 25 percent of children
in Manatee County are obese,
and that number is on the rise.
Between 2010 and 2014, the county’s
youth obesity rate jumped from 10.8
percent to 11.9 percent. Fortunately,
one organization - the Early Learning
Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) - is
obesity epidemic, all the while showing
WAVE Fitness, which was piloted by the
ELC over the summer and is now about to
complete phase two, is a prevention-driven
program designed to help Manatee County
preschool children achieve long-term health
and wellness. This cutting-edge program
applies the principles of elite sports
performance training to help students
improve gross motor skills, flexibility,
balance, coordination and strength while
encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle.
Studies show that well-designed,
at schools have a significant effect
on reducing body mass index (BMI)
levels, preventing obesity, and improving
academic success. This is precisely what
WAVE Fitness aims to accomplish.
“The Department of Health in Manatee
County supports best practices in healthy
eating and physical activity for children
of all ages,” says Carla McGill, PhD, RD,
Health Educator Consultant for the Florida
Department of Health in Manatee County.
“Providing Early Care and Education
Centers with the opportunity to participate
our Healthiest Weight initiatives.”