By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-932470.mp3
Buffalo NY – The Theatre of Youth and two local health groups have teamed up to curb the epidemic of childhood obesity in Western New York. TOY's new interactive theatre experience, "Inside Out," teaches kids about healthy eating by taking them on a wild journey through a kid's body.
Independent Health is sponsoring the play. And the Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease will track kids to find out if the play's message actually changes their eating habits.
The captain of this kid's nutrition command center has his work cut out for him. The captain runs around in his coveralls and captain's hat managing nutrition emergencies like this one.
He's monitoring gauges, answering alarms, and taking urgent messages on the phone upstairs from brain central. The captain has to make sure the nutrition workers in the kid's stomach - uh, nutrition center - can handle what comes at them down the chute. Too many calories, too much grease, not enough vitamins.
The captain is Tim Newell, a respected local veteran actor. He said playing the captain is fun. But Newell said getting kids in the audience to laugh - and pay attention - is a job he takes seriously.
The play "Inside Out" was written by TOY's artistic director Meg Quinn. She said over the years, she noticed more and more children walking into the theatre who were visibly overweight. So, Quinn wasn't shocked to learn that the obesity rate among children in Western New York is ten percent higher than the national average - which is also at epidemic proportions. Quinn said she knew TOY could do something to help change that.
Giant chutes drop from the ceiling spilling piles of popcorn and poker chips on top of the five, exhausted nutrition workers who futilely try to process them. The props are used to represent sugar and calories so kids get a physical picture of nutrition concepts that can be difficult to understand. Quinn said the play is fun - and an effective educational tool.
A sampling of kids' comments after this performance shows kids certainly do seem to be gobbling the play's message.
Changing eating and exercise habits for life is the idea. And not just for kids, but for their parents too. After a pilot of the program two years ago, the Research Center surveyed kids and their parents and found dramatic behavioral changes six months later.
Surveyed kids and parents reported eating 40 percent less junk food and exercising 70 percent more. Similar tracking is being done this time.
Independent Health is underwriting some of the program's costs. They are giving TOY $500,000 over the next five years. IH president Dr. Michael Cropp said it's worth the investment.
And it's not just about what people eat. The play teaches kids they have to get moving too.
After each performance, the actors get kids out of their seats and get them all jumping and exercising. TOY's artistic director Quinn stresses that the lessons aren't just for kids who are overweight.
You and your children can get a look at nutrition - from the "Inside Out" - at public performances on stage now through November 14.
You can check out show times and find out about ticket discounts at Theatre of Youth. And there is an online resource available to help reinforce the play's nutrition lessons at Vatoom.