Family Gym: Preventing Childhood Obesity in Vulnerable Boston Neighborhoods

Creators: Matthew DePamphilis, Haley Rodham, Aileen Levan, Kayla Mathiowetz

This past semester, we were Student Activity Leaders at Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) Family Gym Menino Community Center located in Roslindale, Massachusetts. This service learning was a complement of our Honors seminar at Northeastern University: Contemporary Issues in Healthcare. Though our service, we aimed to help prevent obesity among children ages 3-8 years living in vulnerable Boston neighborhoods by engaging families in exercise and nutrition education. This presentation encompasses our experience at Family Gym and reveals the overwhelming beneficial impact that this program has on the community.