Students should lose “lazy” when contemplating the “hazy, crazy days of summer.”
As least that’s the opinion of two local physicians.
On May 30, Drs. Anthony DeLorenzo of Hinsdale and Karen Nichols of Oak Brook visited second- and third-graders at Manierre Elementary School on Chicago’s Near North Side and invited them to participate in the Summer Fitness Challenge.
“It was a cool experience,” DeLorenzo said. “The children were so eager to listen to our message, which was: ‘We challenge you to eat right and exercise.’ We stressed the importance of proper nutrition when school’s out.”
DeLorenzo practices internal medicine in Willowbrook, and Nichols is the dean of the Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove. Joining them at Manierre were Drs. Christopher Messana and John Becher.
The doctors discussed with the pupils fun and safe exercise and healthy food choices.
The children completed crossword puzzles identifying different types of exercise.
They focused on how to exercise at home without needing equipment, such as walking, running, stretching, sit-ups and push-ups.
The physicians showed them pictures of different meals and asked which ones were healthier choices.
Each student received a jump rope and a Summer Fitness Challenge booklet to take home.
“I think one of the most impressive parts of the program was finding out how much the students already knew about making healthy food choices,” Nichols said. “So we were able to reinforce rather than tell them shocking information they’d never heard before.”
Students are asked to keep track of their healthy activities by completing an activity log from June until August.
At the conclusion of the challenge, students will send their booklets back to the American Osteopathic Association for a prize and to be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to a sporting goods store.
DeLorenzo, who has a 13-year-old son, felt motivated to take a day off work and reach out to inner city youngsters with a healthy message.
“My wife, Regina, and I have always been conscious of good nutrition,” DeLorenzo said. “We’ve really tried to teach our son, Evan, how to make good choices in nutrition by having good choices in the house all the time. He’s been very healthy. He’s only been on two courses of antibiotics in his life.”
DeLorenzo and Nichols didn’t ask students to do anything they wouldn’t normally do.
As members of the Chicago-based American Osteopathic Association, they were challenged by their president, Dr. Peter Ajluni to practice the fitness they preach.
“Our president challenged all of us to walk the walk,” DeLorenzo said. “He challenged us to be fit as individuals and as an organization.”
The AOA responded to the president’s message by launching the new Summer Fitness Challenge program at Manierre.
“The emphasis of our president is on fitness, and we were united as members of the board to participate. So I said I could do it,” Nichols said.
Obesity is becoming an epidemic in children younger than 10, and childhood obesity is the largest growing demographic sector of our population, DeLorenzo said.
For information about the Summer Fitness Challenge for elementary schools, contact the AOA at (800) 621-1773 or (312) 202-8000.
