Beating the Odds

Think Detroit PAL Family Is on the Right Track With Healthier Lifestyle
By:  Sherri Collins

When 8-year-old Cordell Peterson signed up for Think Detroit PAL’s indoor track program last winter, he didn’t know that it would be life changing for him and his entire family.
 
After three months, the Westville Academy South second grader had lost 35 pounds and encouraged his family to embrace exercise and healthier eating habits.

For Cordell, the formula for losing the weight and encouraging his family to do the same was simple.

“I told them to stop eating junk food,” he said.

With health issues such as heart disease and type 2 Diabetes linked to carrying excess weight, access to physical activity is critical. The number of children ages 6 to 11 nationwide who are overweight has tripled since 1970.

Cordell’s parents are proud of him, and say he’s an inspiration.

“Because of him, I joined Weight Watchers and I’ve been walking every day,” said his mom, Debbie Peterson, who added that she’s stopped cooking fried food.

With Cordell’s dad recently being diagnosed as borderline diabetic, the timing for switching to a healthier lifestyle couldn’t have been better.

Now he and his brother, Conrell, are careful to read food labels so they know exactly how much equals a serving, and eat only healthy snacks and sugar free drinks such as Crystal Light.

Cordell is looking forward to participating in outdoor track and field this spring and football in the fall.

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