Alex Daugherty was not deterred.

When his dad couldn’t take him to the gym last week, the 9-year-old begged his mom to drive him to the YMCA.

“I thought he might burn out on it, but he has been very eager to get his workouts in,” Alex’s dad Brad Daugherty said. “He really seems to enjoy it.”

Alex is one of the close to 300 children between the ages of 9-12 who have utilized the Fitness Arcade at the Kleptz YMCA in Englewood. The facility, which opened a year ago, combines fitness and fun with cardio and strength training equipment along with two Xbox Kinect systems.

The Huber Heights YMCA has a similar program in their Kid Fit Center with treadmills, ellipticals and a strength training machine along with Xbox Kinect, Nintendo Wii and surround sound.

“This isn’t a boot camp, we want to make exercise fun,” said Jim Sawin, Huber Heights YMCA health and wellness director. “We get a lot of adults coming into the YMCA who have never used this equipment. These kids are learning at a young age and, hopefully, they will get into a good habit.

Fitness facts

While there are a number of enthusiastic young athletes like Alex Daugherty, there are also increasing numbers of sedentary youngsters across the country.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 17 percent, or 12.5 million, children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese. Since 1980, the prevalence of obesity among children and teens has almost tripled.

The subsequent health risks can last a lifetime as, according to the American Heart Association, obese kids have an 80 percent chance of staying obese their entire lives. Obese youth are more likely to be prediabetic, have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, be at a greater risk for bone and joint problems and suffer from low self-esteem.

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease. It also increases the risk of stroke and other major cardiovascular risk factors as obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL “good” cholesterol and diabetes. The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.

But with colder weather and shorter days, outdoor activities can be limited during the winter which makes facilities like the Fitness Arcade and the Kid Fit Center even more valuable.

Fitness education

Both facilities are staffed with a fitness counselor to help teach the young exercise enthusiasts how to use the equipment correctly and safely.

Parents like Brad Daugherty, appreciate the fitness education their children receive.

“That’s the most important thing, learning to do it correctly,” Daugherty said. “Adults can be afraid to ask questions and, as a result, they can get injured or waste their time by not doing it properly. The kids are eager to learn.”

The strength training machines in both facilities are designed and sized for kids for safety and ease of use. Fitness counselors educate and provide motivation.

“Lots of the kids try to beat the fitness counselor,” Sawin said.

Participants can keep track of their workouts and progress in the workout logs.

Fitness fun

Once the kids have logged a 30-minute workout on the equipment, they can use the Xbox Kinect or the Wii. But there aren’t any couch potatoes — or couches for that matter — as they continue their workout on the big screen.

“We’ve had kids breaking a sweat on the Kinect,” said Amy Waltersheide, Kleptz YMCA health and wellness director. “They are playing games, getting a workout and having fun.”

There are also a variety of prizes available at various participation levels to encourage the kids to come back.

The Huber Heights facility is open to kids from 8-12 years old and runs from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, while the Kleptz YMCA arcade is open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for those 9-12 years old. Both locations will likely increase their hours over the holidays. Use of the Fitness Arcade and Kid Fit Center is included in the YMCA membership.

And beyond the fitness aspect, Daugherty is hoping there is another benefit for his son.

“I think this will help him be more confident, now and later in life.”