Programs and events like 'Elmo's Healthy Heroes' part of fight against childhood obesity

If you are looking for a way to get your child more active and educated about being healthier, the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau has one. Sesame Street LIVE! returns to the Show Me Center today and Wednesday with "Elmo's Healthy Heroes."

This show centers on Super Grover, Sesame Street's resident superhero, who has lost his "superness." Elmo, teaming up with friends from the Sesame Street neighborhood, including Abby Cadabby, teaches children healthy habits regarding exercise, hygiene, proper sleep and nutrition through song and dance. The children join Elmo and his Healthy Heroes as they quest to help Super Grover.

This show highlights a growing effort by television and other media to motivate children to get up, get out and get fit.

Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An abundance of cheap, quick and unhealthy foods coupled with a more sedentary lifestyle have contributed to the growth in obesity cases.

Dr. Shylaja Nuguri, a pediatrician with Cape Physician Associates, has seen the problem of childhood obesity grow each year she has been in practice.

"This is such a big problem, because it's not just one thing; it affects all the systems in your body," Nuguri said. "Your heart, lungs, joints; everything. We have been seeing a lot more Type II diabetes in kids, which is something we would not have even looked for in the past, and it's all from eating [poorly], being lazy and not moving around."

Nuguri said that being overweight can go beyond the physical and hurt children psychologically, too, leading to anxiety and depression, stemming from social negativity at school or in their neighborhood.

"The first thing I tell my little patients is to cut down on the screen time to less than an hour a day," Nuguri said. "It's an easy thing to do."

She said that watching too much television leads to other unsavory habits, like snacking on junk food.

"Parents have to pick shows," Nuguri said. "Kids can probably do some exercises and move around when they are watching these shows, too, and those shows are OK, but everything in moderation."

Nuguri suggests shows that educate as well as make children active, so they learn proper nutrition and eating habits.

"All of us have a responsibility to do that; parents, teachers, and doctors," she said. "If you just tell the kid to do it, he won't do it. You have to be an example and try to do it yourself."

Where previously television contributed to lethargy in children, recent efforts by networks like Nickelodeon, PBS and the Disney Channel are working to turn this around by encouraging healthy lifestyle habits and exercising through play and dance.

In 2010, The Disney Channel developed a program in collaboration with first lady Michelle Obama promoting healthy lifestyles for children through ads with Disney stars and the first lady. The "Let's Move" program features PSAs across Disney's youth and family-targeted media platforms like Disney Channel, Radio Disney and its website Disney.com.

Nickelodeon has gone so far as to literally turn off the TV -- in their case, the network -- to promote activity and a healthier lifestyle. Started in 2004, their "Worldwide Day of Play" sees the network suspend programming and only show a message to "go play" from noon until 3 p.m.

Nickelodeon dedicates 10 percent of its airtime to health and wellness education and messaging and actively invests over $30 million in the "Let's Just Play" program that encourages active, healthy lifestyles in children.

PBS has created shows such as "Fizzy's Lunch Lab," which features funny characters that help to educate families and children. LunchLab.com, the web version of the popular show, offers food facts, recipes and games that help to teach as well.

PBS's "Sesame Street," now in its 41st season, addresses the problem of childhood obesity on their show, and now they are taking it on the road with "Elmo's Healthy Heroes."

Promoting an active lifestyle for adults and children is something Scott Givens, manager of HealthPoint Jackson, takes seriously.

"This is an issue that gets worse every year, unfortunately, instead of getting better," he said. "We have weight management programs just for kids because of the inactivity and poor food choices."

"We offer programs for 2-to-6-year-olds and 6-to-12-year-olds," said Givens. "The smaller kids come in once or twice a week to do the physical, healthy fun things on their level. Our Kids Bee Fit at the [West Park] mall offers weekly activity."

Once children reach 10 years of age, they can join HealthPoint Jackson as a member, which encourages the parents to come and be active, too, according to Givens.

Both the Cape Girardeau and Jackson HealthPoint locations offer year-round activities aimed at children.

"Boot camp classes, kids' cycle classes, summer camps -- we even had a camp last week on a snow day," Givens said. "Keep them moving; they don't care if you can do a perfect push-up. Play on scooters, parachutes, running, playing tag. Do stuff that's fun and enjoyable and stuff you'll want to carry on as a habit."

Nuguri suggests creating games to be played indoors for younger children when the weather is unfavorable.

"Let them go up and down the stairs, and whoever does the most gets some kind of reward," she said.

She also suggests getting them a pedometer so that they can see (or be told by a parent) how many steps they are taking as the day goes along.

Show times for Sesame Street LIVE! "Elmo's Healthy Heroes" are 7 p.m. today and 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Tickets are $14, $20, $27 and $48. The $48 is for the Sunny Seats packages, which includes a VIP seat and pass to a preshow meet and greet. All meet and greets start an hour before show time. Two Sesame Street LIVE! characters will be at the meet and greet, and attendees are encouraged to arrive early and bring their own cameras.

Tickets are available at the Show Me Center box office, online at www.showmecenter.biz, all Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at 651-5000.