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AMC families can make healthful choices, have fun together with FitFamily

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Kathleen Ferrero
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Many families would like more time to have fun together.

Air Mobility Command families can now register for FitFamily, a program designed to help them find ways to spend quality time together as well as develop life-changing goals.

The new Air Force program is an integral part of the Year of the Air Force Family, which highlights the many successful support programs for Airmen and their families throughout the year.

With FitFamily, members can earn points and achieve levels for family fun activities, family sports and fitness, and family nutrition. 

Incentives are provided for points achieved and include certificates signed by senior leaders and family feature articles in the base newspaper/Web site.

Another incentive to participate in FitFamily is the improvement of quality of life. 

A major quality of life issue facing Americans today is obesity, according to First Lady Michelle Obama. During a health care center speech in June, Mrs. Obama stated that nearly one-third of America's children are overweight or obese, and one-third will suffer from diabetes in their lifetime.

"And for the first time in the history, and this is the statistic that always gets to me, as we have such a sophisticated health care system; but this generation, medical experts have warned that they may be on track to have a shorter lifespan - a shorter lifespan - than their parents, as a result of the obesity epidemic," Mrs. Obama said. "... So we need to educate kids about the need for healthy eating."

The goal of the FitFamily program is to help Air Force families be active, make healthy nutrition choices and have fun.

"I think it's going to be exciting, because we're going to get families up and moving." said Ms. Susan Long, Air Mobility Command child and youth specialist. "On Saturday, instead of going to the movies, they can go for a walk or go for a hike or get the bikes out. Or if it's snowing - go sledding," she said.

The FitFamily Web site, www.usafFitFamily.com, provides resources, ideas and goal setting tools. This includes a variety of fitness, health and nutrition articles; healthy recipes; fitness tips and quizzes and more. It will also include a Family Goal Tracker where families can monitor their activities and earn points.

Low-cost activity choices abound at Air Force bases. For example, base outdoor recreation centers typically offer competitive prices on rental equipment as well as adventure trips throughout the year.

At the Scott Air Force Base Outdoor Recreation Center, more than 150 equipment items are available at cheaper rates than on the economy, including a variety of camping equipment; bicycles; water skis; boats and more, said Doug Hartung, the director.

The Scott AFB center also offers group trips such as sky diving, scuba diving, caving, rock-climbing, and has even collaborated with Information, Tickets & Travel to offer activity-filled trips to Puerto Rico and the Grand Canyon.

Other base agencies, such as base Health and Wellness Centers and Airman and Family Readiness Centers, already offer programs that welcome family members, such as free nutrition classes and counseling.

In addition, base child and youth programs and fitness centers are expected to pump up the offerings as part of FitFamily. For example, the local fitness center may offer parent-child aerobics classes; or the local youth center may offer parent-child dance lessons, Ms. Long said.

Base agencies are also expected to collaborate and offer more activities during "double-points months" for FitFamily, she said. During these three months, families will be able to earn double points. March is National Nutrition Month; May is National Fitness Month; and July is Family Summer Fun month.

"It will be interesting to see who comes up with the most creative activities to get families involved," Ms. Long said.

For more information about FitFamily, visit the Web site at www.usafFitFamily.com, or call your base youth center, child development center or fitness center.