Health Sciences North restarts program to encourage 'healthy lifestyle changes' in kids

A program that encourages healthy eating and an active lifestyle for children is taking registrations in Sudbury.

The BALANCE Program at Health Sciences North supports children and teens who are living with excess weight.

The free, 12-week program does not require a doctor's referral and allows kids and their families access to a dietician, an exercise specialist, a social worker, a nurse practitioner and a consulting pediatrician.

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Angie Wiwczor, a nurse practitioner involved with the program, says the goal of the program is to teach healthy eating habits at a young age.

"When you look at that approach, it's not focusing on weight loss," Wiwczor says, "it's focusing weight-neutral outcomes and helping with making healthy lifestyle changes."

"There will be health education provided, physical activity session occurs every evening," Wieczor says, "so our exercise specialist will provide some fun games, let the children pick games, help them work on some of the natural physical activities children just don't get to learn or get to do often or don't feel comfortable with."

To register in the program, parents can call Health Sciences NorthNeoKids at (705) 7055237100 or 18664690822.

• Visit the NeoKids website