Letter: YMCA Weight Loss Program Changed My Son's Life

My name is Kim Sumner and I wanted to share a remarkable story about my son Tyler. Tyler has been battling child obesity for some time now and even some health issues that was caused by being overweight. He was pre-diabetic, blood pressure, asthma, body aches, etc.

My son weighed 110 lbs at the age of seven (he is now eight almost nine). Our pediatrician recommended that we try to get Tyler into an exercise program and to see a nutritionist. Well, finding a place for a seven year old is hard to come by and a nutritionist for a picky seven year old, that's a joke. It was also suggested that we have him tested for diabetes. Well when the test came back, we learned he was pre-diabetic.

My son attends and at the same time this was going on the school nurse had come to us with some news that she received about a program at the YMCA. She said that the YMCA was partnering up with United Health Care and was going to be doing a study about child obesity and that we should check it out. It was a 26 week program that required parents to go with their child once a week and learn about different ways to eat and exercise. I can not say enough about this program. It has done so much for Tyler.

When Tyler weighed his heaviest, kids would make fun of him and call him fat and always make him be "it" when playing tag because they knew he would never catch them because he couldn't run fast. Tyler also wanted to play football but with his weight he was unable to. He had trouble playing baseball because he had to stop every so often and use his inhaler because he would get short of breath. Tyler also always wore sweatpants or pants with elastic waistbands because he couldn't button a pair of jeans. He now can wear jeans with no problem.

Being out of the program for one year now, Tyler has lost 20 lbs and is no longer diabetic, he is asthma free, his blood pressure is good and no more body aches caused from weight. He plays baseball, basketball, dance, and is even going to play football this year. He is even skinnier than some of those kids that made fun of him. His self confidence is through the roof.

*Visit the YMCA website to learn more about the Join 4 Kids program.