News and Events

Overweight children often spend too much time in sedentary activities and don’t get enough physical exercise. Children with weight problems often eat too many unhealthy foods and not enough healthy foods. Also overweight children often struggle with poor self-esteem.

Here are some startling statistics:

• In New Hampshire, 32.8% of all children are overweight or obese.
• The percent of school-aged children 6-11 who are overweight more than doubled between 1970 and 2000, an increase of 6.5% to 15.3%.
• The percent of overweight adolescents age 12-19 tripled from 5.0% to 15.5% during the same period.
• The health consequences of childhood obesity are asthma symptoms, type 2 diabetes, sleep disorders, poor mental health (low self-esteem), adult obesity and its resulting health problems.

Weeks Medical Center is offering GET IN SHAPE, a ten session program that addresses the needs of overweight and obese school-age children. Working with their parent(s) or guardian, the child will be treated by an Interdisciplinary Team, consisting of a Primary Care Provider, Registered Dietician, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and a Fitness Director. The goal is to help children develop a lifelong habit of eating healthy foods; getting in good physical shape; and develop a positive self-image. Another goal is to reach and maintain a 10% (or greater) reduction in BMI (body mass index) over a 2-year period.

If your child is school-age, overweight or obese, and willing to participate with at least one parent or guardian in the ten sessions, and are receiving primary care services from a Weeks Medical Center provider, they qualify for the program. There is a $40 enrollment fee. Most sessions are billable to insurance or Medicaid. Co-payments will be collected. No child will be denied based on ability to pay. Parents who are interested should discuss a program referral with their primary care physician (PCP), pediatrician or pediatric nurse practitioner.

Sessions are held in the Lancaster physician office, Whitefield physician office, Groveton physician office and Cabot Family Fitness. To learn more about dates and times to enroll, call the Case Management Department at Weeks Medical at 603-788-5394.

Weeks Medical Center is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital that serves the North Country towns of New Hampshire and Vermont. The hospital also provides home health services based in Lancaster and has physician offices in Lancaster, Whitefield and Groveton. Weeks offers 24-hour Emergency Room services; comprehensive rehabilitation services; and a highly respected Cancer Care department. The hospital is located at 173 Middle Street in Lancaster and can be reached at 603-788-4911.