HAWC to host Teen Wellness Camp: Prevention -- not intervention -- is the key

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The Health and Wellness center will be hosting a two-week camp beginning August 3 for Holloman teenagers that focuses on lifelong health and wellness through hands-on activities and educational classes.

The goal of the camp is to make health a priority at a young age and promote a healthy lifestyle with the idea that prevention -- not intervention -- is the key.

"With this program, we hope to be proactive rather than reactive," said Janet Weatherly, the program manager of the event. "It's easier to teach them now then to try to get a 40-year-old to lose 50 pounds by changing 40 years of eating habits."

The HAWC sees individuals daily who need help changing their health behaviors, said Ms. Weatherly, and that is why the camp was created. Through their work, they've also seen that children really are interested in the subject.

"When the HAWC participates in school events, we notice how excited the kids get looking at the food models, sugar displays and other health information," she said. "Health is definitely something that kids are interested in, but get very little accurate information about in and out of school."

During the 10-day course, teenagers will be exposed to a variety of physical activities at the Fitness and Sports center, including spin class, yoga and a lesson on the proper use of cardio and weight machines. They will also learn about numerous health subjects such as nutrition, tobacco prevention, safe dating and healthy self-esteem. Teens will also learn hands-on how to make healthy snacks and will be taken to the Commissary to learn about the strategies companies use to sell food.

Ms. Weatherly believes these health topics are as important as the subjects they learn in school.

"We are a country that still focuses education on reading, writing and math. Those are important subjects, but so is individual health, so it should be treated the same as other subjects," she said. "Ask anyone suffering with a chronic disease and they'll tell you that nothing in the world matters if you don't have your health!"

Maj. Donnell Nicks, a health care integrator from the 49th Medical Group, says that maintaining individual health begins at a young age.

"The habits you form as a child carry into adulthood and the longer you maintain certain habits the more difficult it is to change them," she said. "It's much easier to change the behavior of a child than it is of an adult."

Her belief is backed up by recent research that shows obesity rates are higher in adults than in children, however, childhood obesity is becoming a problem as well.

"Nationwide, 18 percent of children aged 6 to 19 are considered overweight compared to over 60 percent of adults who are considered overweight or obese," said Major Nicks. "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity rates among children in the U.S. have doubled since 1980 and have tripled for adolescents."

This camp is the kind of approach that must be taken to combat the issue at Holloman, whose teenage population has a growing obesity rate, she said. These children could very well be the future of our military.

"Fit to Fight" is a motto in the Air Force, and by being educated early-on, the potential next generation of the Air Force could be 'fit for life.'

"If we want to have a healthier Air Force, then we should focus on our future generations of potential military members," said Ms. Weatherly

The Teen Wellness Camp begins August 3 and the last day will be August 14. Camp will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until noon. It is open to teens aged 13 to 19 with base access. For the duration of the camp, teens are able to go to Holloman Primary for a free lunch and the Youth and Teen Center will be available for camp participants, even those who are not members.

To sign-up for the camp or for more information, contact Ms. Weatherly at the Health and Wellness Center at 575-572-6047.