Nonprofit wants kids to jump for joy to stay fit

Chunky. Chubby. Big boned. Obese. Fat.

Whatever the term, Nevada's youth tips the scales unfavorably compared to peers nationwide.

The state ranks as the ninth fattest in the country, according to a recent Forbes Magazine study.

Toss in the fact that about one-third of Clark County's kids are overweight or obese, according to the county health district, and that's a recipe for disaster that puts children at risk for heart disease, diabetes and other obesity-related diseases.

Local groups targeting childhood chubbiness are trying to curb those numbers. Almost 13 percent of high school kids in Clark County surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control last year were obese, with males weighing in heavier than females.

Anthony Alegrete is the co-founder and president of the Jump for Joy Foundation, a relatively new nonprofit headquartered in Las Vegas that aims to fight childhood obesity for kids K-12 by hosting free physical fitness camps.

It is one of several groups throughout the valley that connect parents and their kids with resources about the health risks associated with obesity.

"At the rate we're going, we could be the first generation to outlive our children," said Alegrete, who has two children. "I would hate for me to outlive my child for something I could have prevented."

The economic climate has created a domino effect where stressed-out parents worry more about feeding children rather than what they are feeding them, Alegrete said.

"Nowadays with the recession going on, most parents don't know where the next meal is coming from," he said.

"It starts with the parents. They're working real hard, they're tired and they want to relax; so they're not playing ball or running laps around the park. They're the motivators to the child."

That's why Alegrete's group teaches kids about healthy living, nutrition facts and healthy recipes, and gets parents involved in the program.

The Jump for Joy Foundation hosts Camp JUMP, which combines free fitness camps and activities such as flag football and yoga, with techniques on how to deal with stress and increase mental wellness.

Mike Lubbe, president and CEO of the YMCA of Southern Nevada, said parents are challenged with how to get kids active with video games, texting, social networking sites and online chatting.

"Weather has a bit to do with it too in Vegas," he said. "When are kids most active? It's in the summer months, unfortunately, where it may reach 111 degrees. You're probably not going to send your child outdoors. That's why indoor structured activities like racquetball and swimming are so important."

The valley's YMCAs offer an on­going indoor Y Day Camp for dance, basket­ball, rock wall climbing and other physical activities that run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays during the summer.

Lubbe said the exercise aspect does not have to be "highly structured or based on the ability to pay."

"It's as simple as a family walk in the morning before Mom and Dad go to work or after dinner when the sun goes down," he said.

"There are multiple benefits. Not only are you spending time together, but you're also getting exercise for the children. There are lots of obese adults that could benefit from the healthy lifestyle."

Contact Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.