SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -
For the past 16 weeks, Sarah Lanier has participated in Childhood Obesity Prevention Education.
Sarah says the COPE program makes her feel good about herself, because she is being active instead of staying cooped up inside.
COPE's founder Sandy Baker launched the program to find a way to help children that are obese like she once was.
In the COPE sessions, kids learn proper fitness and nutrition. They also receive counseling. Baker requires parental participation, and experts say this is key to helping your child lose weight.
Clinical dietitian Hellen Hussey says, "The child is making the changes, that means the parent has to make the changes with the child or for the child."
Sarah's family has done just that. Her parents and three siblings have all changed their lifestyles, and Sarah's mother Lisa says it has not been a walk in the park.
"It's hard when you have multiple children that are athletic and some of them are skinny and they need the nutritional higher calories because they burn off the energy so much. It's just very difficult telling one child that you can't have this and the other kids you can have this."
So how did the Lanier family make it work? First, Mrs. Lanier says avoid the D-word.
"I think the word diet in itself is a horrible word to use with any child. I think that it makes them less of themselves."
Next, change your grocery shopping habits. In the COPE sessions, the girls are taught simple, healthy recipes they can make at home. Baker also urges parents to take their children to the grocery store with them, so they know exactly what options they have to eat.
And most importantly, if you want your child to lose weight, Mrs. Lanier says the whole family has to get moving.
Baker suggests calling it fun time, or playtime, and getting everyone involved.
And as for Sarah's progress, at the beginning of the of the program, she could barely do a push-up. But this fall, she completed the Enmark Bridge Run and played on a soccer team for the first time ever.
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