The Foneni Achocho Sensu Athletic Organization, with the Pay-Less Markets Community Foundation, is launching an eight-week Fitness & Nutrition Education Summer Program at Ypao Beach Park from June 1 to July 27.
The objective of the Fitness & Nutrition Summer Program is to teach youth the importance of physical activity and nutrition to their health and well-being, FAS said in a release.
The program will run Monday to Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Today’s youth spend four or more hours engaging in screen time than they do participating in sports and other physical activity. In his article, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Overweight/Obesity in Youth: Evidence From Cross-sectional, Longitudinal, and Interventional Studies, Robert F. Zoeller, Jr., PhD, noted that many children and adolescents in the United States do not meet the minimum recommendations for physical activity.
According to the Guam Youth Risk Behavior Survey and local health assessments, Guam’s youth experience the same activity disparities outlined in national trends, but often at higher rates.
Historically and consistently, adolescents in Guam report lower overall levels of physical activity than their peers on the U.S. mainland.
Local public health data highlights that local youth spend more hours in front of screens (TV, phones, and computer gaming) and less time participating in vigorous or organized physical activity than the average youth in the U.S. mainland.
“Data shows that youth from the Micronesian islands report the lowest overall levels of physical activity on the island. Youth in the FAS community in Guam need to engage in physical activity. Move more and be active for 60 minutes daily, including muscle- and bone-strengthening activities at least 3 days a week,” FAS said.
The Fitness & Nutrition summer program is open to the first 100 youth, aged 12 to 17, who sign up.
For more information or to register, visit the FAS Athletic Club Facebook page or register using the QR code. Participants can also register on site at Ypao Park on June 1 at 5 p.m.
The Fitness & Nutrition Education Summer Program was made possible by the Pay-Less Mini Grant Fund, administered by the Pay-Less Markets Community Foundation. Through this grant, FAS continues to address issues affecting the youth and their physical activity gap in Guam.