Due to obesity rates rising rapidly between adults and kids, health has become quite an important factor to most people in America. Gyms and health clubs have always been around, but not many focus on children.

So it made sense why when Maria Yakkey was looking for a fitness center for her daughter, the only child-focused gym she found was in California.

"I was always into fitness, but not in the level of teaching," said Yakkey. "I was looking for something for my daughter, and I wanted to take her to a gym...but there was nothing for children."

Not willing to send her daughter to an adult's gym, which could make her uncomfortable, or to California either, Yakkey began researching online about youth fitness. She began talking to her friend, Barbara Brescia, a soccer coach, who agreed that the lack of youth gyms within the area was a problem.

"We realized that there was nothing out there for children, so we thought this was something that we would enjoy doing," said Brescia.

Within a few days, Yakkey and Brescia began making plans on opening up their first gym for kids.

The two began researching where to find gym equipment specially made for kids. They then had to be certified. Being that neither had any formal training in physical fitness, they had to take a four-week course, which trained them on how to use the equipment and then teach it to the children. They were also certified in first aid and CPR.

On Oct. 22, 2004, KidFit USA officially opened. "We got involved because we wanted to do something with kids and benefit them in more ways then just one, we wanted them to learn at an early age that fitness is important in their lives," said Brescia.

KidFit USA provides children with positive resistance training as well as positive reinforcement by their trainers. Similar to the adult women's gym Curves, KidFit provides a 40-minute workout for children between the ages of 6-13. The maximum height for the equipment is 5'3". Children can come to the gym at any time and as often as they like.

Though no specific class is taught, the children come in and start their training in a specific order. There are eight pieces of equipment, which holds 16 different fitness stations. All of the machines have a hydraulic system within the equipment that generates a type of pressure causing children to use a push/pull method in order to use the machinery.

On every piece of equipment, children must use two sets of muscles (one muscle to push, the other to pull). The purpose of this type of equipment is to maintain a positive resistance, which will have no effect on children's growing bones and platelets. This equipment is specially designed for children, so it won't have any strain or soreness on their muscles. A dial set on the machine specifies the level of tension for each individual child so that their muscles can work to their full capacity.

"Every machine can be adjusted to each child's strength," said Yakkey. "That's why there is no failure here for any child's mind, because they can all do it."

The equipment is set up in a specific way so that every muscle is used. Children come in, stretch, start on one station, stop and do recovery work (such as jump roping, hopping, jogging), take their heart rate, and then go on to the next station. They do this at every station until they reach the last one and then they stretch for a final time. During a single workout, kids can burn between 350-900 calories. Children are encouraged to drink water while they are working out.

KidFit USA does not monitor any child's weight whatsoever nor does it target specific children, such as obese children. KidFit simply recognizes the growing problem of unhealthy eating habits, inactivity and weight gain.

""We leave that [weight] to the parents, nutritionist or doctor," said Yakkey. "If the child is working hard to lose weight, we do not want them to be discouraged."

Brescia noted how most weight-loss programs created for kids mainly focus on overweight children. "That's not fair," said Brescia. "That affects confidence and then kids keep to themselves and don't want to do anything." Kids feel good about themselves through encouragement and confidence she continued. "The kids that come, come everyday, and they are excited to work out. I want them to have fun and enjoy themselves."

As an incentive to motivate the children, KidFit runs a point/prize program. For every good grade, a child earns a point, for every new member a child brings along, they earn a point and every time they attend, they earn a point. Later, those points are calculated and the child can earn a prize for his/her good work.

It is important that children learn healthy habits at a young age. Though it's hard to do that when both parents work, it is important to teach kids about exercise and eating healthy. Children need about an hour's worth a day in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Most do not get that as they grow up watching television and playing video games. By teaching children how to fit exercise into their lives, they learn to maintain that, as they grow older.

"We are trying to get them to learn to be active so that they can enjoy their lives," said Yakkey.

Currently, there are 40 young members in the gym and every day, another young member seems to join. Both Brescia and Yakkey are happy about the positive response they have received in Farmingdale.

"The kids are great, they really make everything worth it that come here," said Yakkey.

KidFit USA, located at 38 Motor Ave., is open six days a week, Monday-Thursday from 3:30-8 p.m., Fridays 3:30-7 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Children are encouraged to come any time, as often as they like and have full unlimited usage of the facility. KidFit holds fitness birthday parties on the weekends and have recently started a yoga program called YogaKids. For information visit http://kidfitusa.tripod.com or call 694-5737.

Both Yakkey and Brescia reside in Farmingdale with their families. Yakkey's children, ages 8 and 11 and Brescia's children, ages 8 and 12, all attend Farmingdale Public Schools.