Akiko's Kids and the Tampa Bay Research Insititute

The TBRI Health Education Committee has launched The Way to Health: Akiko’s Kids  program  to combat obesity among youths by using a holistic approach. Our solution emphasizes the need for youth to learn and follow healthy living patterns in order to become productive citizens. Developed by Jan Ballantine, a former St. Petersburg College professor, and TBRI President Dr. Akiko Tanaka, this after-school program emphasizes two critical elements:

1. Developing a healthy body and
2. Promoting a healthy mind.

This is especially important for children as they live their Health Pathway, develop their Empowerment Pathway, and consider their Career Pathway. For this purpose, we have focused on at-risk populations that include African-American and Hispanic youth in the local area.

For the Health Pathway, we measured and weighed 4th and 5th graders at the beginning, middle and end of the program to monitor their Body Mass Index (BMI). They received instruction on many topics including the new food pyramid and making healthy food choices. We provided them with recipes and samples of foods that can be easily prepared by their families. The students found it fun and instructive to have a lesson on healthy eating and cooking. In addition, Dr. Kate Dayton of Eckerd College and Mr. John Jessip of TBRI have presented lessons on the immune system to help the children understand the important role it plays in staying healthy.

For the Empowerment Pathway, Ms. Ballantine engaged them in listening and public speaking exercises to help them build their confidence and skill. Everyone in the audience was quite moved by the speech given by one of the 5th graders during the program when she talked about how important it has been for her to be in The Way to Health program.

For the Career Pathway, prominent local professionals have made appearances to discuss their careers with the children. A number of distinguished community leaders have spoken, including a newly appointed judge for the State of Florida, the Honorable James Pierce, who inspired the children to stay focused and do well in school. This was a heartfelt moment, and the adults in attendance were touched by their response to his remarks.

A number of Eckerd College students, serving as volunteer interns, have provided valuable assistance in facilitating the outreach of the Akiko’s Kids program.

After satisfactorily completing the program, the children visited Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, which was one of the highlights of the program. We wish to thank the Zoo for kindly providing complimentary tickets for the children and the chaperones.

This beneficial after-school program has been supported by grants from Publix Super Markets Charities and the Suncoast Cardiovascular Research and Education Foundation (an affiliate of the American Heart Association).