Wayne State University Family Medicine is holding a free event, Keeping Kids Healthy, on Saturday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1135 W. University Dr., Suite 250, Rochester.

Included in the day will be personalized immunization reviews, blood pressure readings and body mass index (BMI) calculations for children. Parents will be able to speak with a Wayne State University Family Medicine physician, and a certified nutritionist will be on site for any questions they may have regarding their child's lifestyle, eating habits and physical activities.

"The overall well-being and health of your child is essential," said Maribeth Mateo, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences and a member of the Wayne State University Physician Group. "Immunizing your child properly, eliminating junk foods and replacing them with healthier choices, and ensuring that your child is physically active 30 to 60 minutes every day are small changes that can establish a healthy lifestyle."

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. An estimated one in three children and teens in the United States is overweight or obese. Overweight children have a 70-80 percent chance of becoming overweight adults. Obesity can cause a broad range of health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart problems.

There is no charge to participate in Keeping Kids Healthy. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call (248) 650-6301.

The Wayne State University Physician Group (WSUPG) is one of southeast Michigan's largest nonprofit multispecialty physician practice groups, with more than 2,000 physicians providing primary and specialty medical services for close to 1 million patient visits annually. WSUPG has more than 100 locations, and affiliations with the Detroit Medical Center, Oakwood Healthcare System, Karmanos Cancer Center, Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and St. John Providence Health System. As faculty members of the Wayne State University School of Medicine, WSUPG's physicians and staff are on the forefront of technology and bringing the latest in medical advancements to the bedside. In addition to its substantial clinical practice, WSUPG is training the Michigan physicians of tomorrow by providing instructors for more than 1,200 medical students and 900 residents each year.