Holyoke YMCA fighting childhood obesity

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - The Greater Holyoke YMCA re-opened its fitness room for children Saturday.

It's called the Fit Zone.

The writing's on the wall at the Fit Zone, in terms that every 7 to 14 year old can understand and follow.

It's a program aimed at fighting childhood obesity.

Just like the grown ups, the children have their own exercise room to work out and put in the mood for healthy food and drink. Mike Trotman of Holyoke was happy he took his son to the Fit Zone. “I think this is fantastic. It fills a really gap for children's health. They have a place where everything is scaled for them and they're encouraged to come in an cut loose, have fun and get fit.”

But all this preparation for a healthier life would just be an exercise in futility unless the children were willing to buy into this program.

That's why 22News asked little Ethan what he thinks of the fit zone, and that was the clincher. “You can play, exercise, and kids don't have to stay inside and be bored.”

As you can see, the equipment was made specifically for the kids and was designed to make the children stronger and healthy.