A new summer camp will help kids with liver disease

Summer camp is a rite of passage for many kids. Now young people battling liver disease can benefit from the experience.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) currently affects 10% of children in the United States and 38% of children who are obese have NAFLD. It is the most common cause of liver disease in children and there are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat it.

But doctors now have access to a powerful prescription for their pediatric patients with NAFLD: A free, six-week, all-day summer camp, geared for overweight and obese children ages 8 to 15.

The HealthyUs summer camp will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning in the summer 2024, at the Sacramento Central YMCA, 2021 W St. The camp will equip attendees with life-changing tools for healthy living. Highlights will include:

• Team-building summer sports
• Games
• Nutritious meals
• Healthy living seminars

The camp was designed by a team that includes UC Davis Children’s Hospital pediatric gastroenterology physicians, YMCA certified group fitness instructors, personal trainers, nutritionists and YMCA summer camp professionals.

“In our clinic, we aim to find personalized ways to address our patients’ diet and exercise goals that can be achieved at home. But with this camp, our patients spend the summer building positive health habits in a fun environment with other children who have the same challenges,” said UC Davis pediatric GI physician Sindhura Batchu. “Our partnership with the YMCA gives us the ability to spread awareness of this very important disease and help form real-time impacts on the health and wellbeing of our patients.”

The program is funded by a grant from the Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis.

Only patients who are referred to the UC Davis pediatric GI team can sign up to attend. Primary care physicians with a patient who would benefit from this camp can send a referral to UC Davis Pediatric GI at 800-823-4543 and ask to be seen by pediatric gastroenterologists Arthur de Lorimier or Sindhura Batchu.

Referring physicians can also reach out via email to Arthur de Lorimier at adelorimier@ucdavis.edu and Sindhura Batchu at sbatchu@ucdavis.edu.