More than 2,100 children and adults attended the October 7 FitFuture KIDS Fest. It was the first year for the free festival, which showcased simple ways families can fit nutritious eating and physical activity into their daily lives. KIDS Fest photos
 

Filling the Texas Room of Will Rogers Exhibit Hall in Fort Worth on a sunny Saturday afternoon, people of all ages enjoyed

• yoga, fencing, tae kwon do, rock-wall climbing, Dance Dance Revolution (the action-oriented video game), step dancing and salsa dancing.

• gymnastics demonstrations, including a special appearance by Olympic medalist Kim Zmeskal-Burdette.

• how to use technology to make exercise fun and interesting. 

• healthy cooking demonstrations.

• how to grow a healthy vegetable garden.

• almost 30 booths of interactive fun.

• activity trails where kids enjoyed simple physical activities adapted for all fitness levels, including hopscotch, hula hoops and jump rope.

Door prize drawings were held every half hour. Prizes were donated by the City of Fort Worth Public Health Department, Reebok, Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance and the Texas Medical Association Foundation.

FitFuture is a trademarked, collaborative community effort to help local families and individuals live healthier lives. It is being led by United Way of Tarrant County, Fort Worth Public Health, Tarrant County Public Health, the University of North Texas Health Science Center and the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth. For more information, visit www.fitfuture.org.

Did you know?

A third of Texas school children are overweight or obese. An obese adolescent has a 70 percent chance of becoming an overweight or obese adult.

Children diagnosed with obesity are two to three times more likely to be hospitalized, and three times more expensive for the health care system, than the average child.