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Heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are not just adult diseases, says Euniesha Davis of the United Way.

"We have kids experiencing heart attacks at 12 years of age" because of childhood obesity, said Davis, community impact director for the national capital area office in Washington, D.C.

As part of its Child Wellness Initiative, the United Way has launched an effort to reduce childhood obesity in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Fun, Fly and Fit, a program led by Davis, enables the United Way to work with the community through nonprofits and schools to tackle this major health concern.

"We usually don't operate as a direct-service provider," said Davis, who has worked for the organization since 2007. "We usually pass services through local nonprofits."

As part of the program, fitness trainers go to schools, churches or other sites after school twice a week to provide six weeks' worth of activities, games and lessons on nutrition.

Lake Arbor and Potomac Landing elementary schools in Prince George's County are serving as pilot sites for the program that started in January, said Davis, who lives in District Heights. Nu You Wellness and Fitness, based in Greenbelt, developed the educational curriculum that includes lessons on the value of drinking more water, she said.

The program is a vital alternative to the sedentary lifestyles of many of today's youth, Davis said.

"Kids are in school all day, and then they come home and plop on the couch, get on the computer or watch TV," she said, adding that a diet of junk food and sugary drinks compounds the problem. Further, some children must remain inside because of dilapidated area playgrounds or unsafe neighborhoods. The result is a range of costly health problems for children, in addition to teasing and bullying from peers, Davis said.

With the United Way program, children enjoy team-based games that don't seem like exercise at all, Davis said.

One game they play is the boat game, where one child sits on a flat bed sheet and the rest of the team pulls, racing another team to the finish line. The program uses footballs, beach buckets and other low-cost items so children can replicate the games at home. At the end of the six weeks, the after-school site receives a mini-grant to purchase cones, jump ropes, hula hoops and other equipment.

Parents get in on the fun by joining their children in a closing party when the program ends. They also attend a workshop to learn how to read product labels and prepare healthier meals.

For parents, Davis said, busy schedules, affordability and lack of knowledge create major challenges.

"Some parents worry about the mortgage first, then figure out what to put on the dinner table," Davis said.

Through the program, the United Way hopes to work closely with local grocers, businesses and other stakeholders to spread the program around the region. United Way CEO William Hanbury also has written a letter to First Lady Michelle Obama, who recently launched a national effort to get children moving.

"We would love for her to serve as honorary chair," Davis said.

Euniesha Davis

How she makes a difference: Davis launched the United Way's Fun, Fly and Fit after-school program to reduce childhood obesity. Find out more at www.unitedwaynca.org or call 202-488-2024.