Fifteen-year-old Creates Workout DVD for Kids “Fitness 4 Kids” designed to help fight obesity in children and adolescents

Inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, which is aimed at creating a generation of healthy kids, Golden Valley High School sophomore Jalen Jones decided to do his part to help fight childhood obesity.
He’s directed, produced and served as host for a 60-minute workout DVD called “Fitness 4 Kids,” which he said is a less-intimidating way for young people who might be interested in fitness to get started. The routines are set to up-tempo music and require no equipment and limited space.
Over the past three decades, the number of children classified as obese has doubled, and that number has quadrupled for adolescents.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said that childhood obesity puts young people at risk for Type II diabetes, sleep apnea and bone and joint problems, as well as elevating their lifetime risk of heart disease, osteoarthritis and even cancer.
“I think that we need to do something to stop childhood obesity,” Jalen said.  “It doesn’t have to be hard to be active, and that’s something that can keep you healthy.”
Jalen, who is taking AP courses at Golden Valley High School, is also a member of the school’s marching band, which keeps him active.  But, he said, he knows that not everyone has the opportunities that he does.
“Some kids and teens who might want to be active don’t have much opportunity,” Jalen said.  “There isn’t much time for physical activity at school, and if both their parents work, they might not be able to play sports or do other things like that.”
Jalen developed the workout routines featured in the DVD with former Lakers Girl Kristin Jacobs.  Jacobs has a Master’s Degree in exercise physiology and helped ensure the moves maximize fitness while also being safe to perform.  Safety was a goal throughout for Jalen.
“I wanted to make sure kids had a safe, fun way to get active because I know there are big benefits,” he said.  “Healthy, physically active kids do better in school and have better self-confidence.  Getting started can seem intimidating, which is why I wanted to make something that would be easy and healthy for them to follow at home.”
His plan now is to get the DVD in the hands of more kids – that’s the only way it will work, after all.  He’s thought of a way to do that and help community organizations at the same time; he’s started the Fitness 4 Kids Fundraising program at JalenFitness.com. Sports leagues, schools, churches and other organizations can sell the DVDs as a fundraiser and keep a portion of the proceeds.  He said he came up with the idea because of the unhealthy food and candy offered at many fundraisers, even those for sports teams.
“It seemed silly to me that places that wanted to get kids active were selling candy and junk food,” Jalen said.  “So I started thinking about a way that they could get the money they need but do it by promoting health instead.”
Despite his young age, this isn’t Jalen’s first DVD.  Five years ago, when he was 10, he directed two short videos, “Bunny Play Date” and “Pony Play Date,” aimed at an audience of young children.  The videos were released nationally on DVD and on online streaming services.
“Fitness 4 Kids” DVD and “Fitness 4 Kids Fundraising” is available at amazon.com.