Live Light Live Right has evaluated more than 3,000 children since 2001, helping children improve their diet, exercise habits, and their health. The program’s novel, multi-disciplinary approach has resulted in tremendous positive fitness and health outcomes, including the reduction of Body Mass Index scores, cholesterol, blood pressure, insulin levels and overall quality of life indicators.
Honors and Awards
Our program has been recognized by leading health care associations, government leaders and city and state agencies for the work we do.
- Health Care Innovations award, 2005
We were honored to receive this prestigious award from the Health Care Trustees of New York State - Community Health Improvement award, 2010
Health Care Association of New York State - We’ve received recognition from the New York State Department of Health, New York City Council, New York City Department of Education, and the Brooklyn Borough President.
- The Robin Hood Foundation funds our organization as a sustainable and replicable model
- We have been featured in numerous newspaper articles and health education segments on television
Initial patient screenings found:
- 47 percent of patients were hypertensive
- 55 percent of patients had abnormal lipid/cholesterol levels
- 38 percent of patients, an extraordinarily high proportion, had “The Metabolic Syndrome,” that is, they demonstrated three or more risk factors
The Metabolic Syndrome findings
Considering that children with even one risk factor have a four-fold higher chance of developing type II diabetes, it is remarkable that the incidence of new onset of type II diabetes among the program’s participants has been less than one percent.
Goals
The program is intended to instill healthy eating and fitness habits for life. Relative weight loss (measured as a reduction in B.M.I. index scores) — i.e., a decrease in the rate of weight gain based on increments in height and related to age as children continue to grow — is expected and health outcomes have been very positive.
Outcomes
Among participants enrolled in the program for an average of 18 months:
- 80 percent reduced their Body Mass Index score
- 50 percent reduced their blood pressure
- 50 percent improved their lipid profile
- 40 percent reduced their insulin levels
- 88 percent increased their lean body mass
For those in the program for over 18 months:
- 60 percents of patients have normalized their blood pressure
- 60 percent have normalized their lipid levels
- 80 percent have shown resolution of the metabolic syndrome
Fit Tests
In addition to tracking clinical indicators, Fit Tests are administered regularly at the training sessions. The Fit Test measures standard physical abilities (sit-ups, running short lengths, squats, reach length, etc.) and is based on the New York City Fitness Gram and the President’s Council on Exercise.
Other Metrics
Changes in attitude regarding eating behaviors
75% of our participants and their families made positive changes in the following areas:
- Reading food labels more consistently
- Changing to low fat milk
- Less juice or soda intake
- Changing to whole grain
- More fruits and vegetables
- Less fast food per week