“Freeways to Exercise”
Web site launched to promote free/fun ways for children and families to get moving and grooving

Chattanooga, TN—Many parents are surprised to hear that their children should get at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, preferably every day. With summer approaching, parents may be scrambling for ideas to find free, fun and easy ways to get kids moving.

A new Web site has been launched that offers resources, ideas and inspiration to encourage physical activity for children and their families in the Chattanooga area.  Called “Freeways to Exercise,” the idea began grew out of a Leadership Chattanooga project. Leadership Chattanooga is a program of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We wanted to take a fun approach to addressing the very serious challenge of childhood obesity,” said team member Kasey Poole Decosimo, program manager at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department. “Freeways to Exercise promotes resources right here in Chattanooga – all in one convenient place on the Web site -- that can help families get active and stay active, with links to other helpful sites.” 

In Hamilton County, almost 60 percent of adults are overweight or obese. In Tennessee, 35 percent of youth are either obese or at risk for becoming overweight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in three youths in the U.S. watch television three or more hours a day, while only one-third of youths engage in physical activity at least 60 minutes a day.  As a result of obesity, many children will have increased risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes as adults.

“Freeways to Exercise is a community education campaign to promote fun, free, and easily accessible physical activities that currently exist in the Chattanooga area,” said Melissa Taylor, Director of Transportation Planning for the Regional Planning Agency. “We’re not reinventing the wheel; we’re just posting the wheel in one place – on the Web.  Research has shown that children who regularly engage in physical activities are more likely to have a healthy future, greater self-esteem, higher school achievement and positive family relationships than their sedentary peers.”

On the Freeways to Exercise Web site, families will discover:

• Tips to help keep your children active that don’t require money or transportation -- just some creativity;
• Links to Chattanooga area physical activity opportunities;
• A toolbox for families to get active and to stay active; and
• Articles and research about childhood obesity and physical activity.

Freeways to Exercise is a community project coordinated by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Chattanooga group,  Eight Sides of a Circle. Members include:  Kathie Fulgham, Scott Kornblum, Tracy McCrory, Aaron Mills, Kasey Poole Decosimo, Melissa Taylor, Greg Willett, and Rick Wood. Project Partners of Freeways to Exercise include: Bike Chattanooga, Hamilton County Step ONE, Chattanooga Parent magazine, City of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation, and Hamilton County Parks and Recreation.

Leadership Chattanooga is a 10-month leadership development program that familiarizes future leaders with community issues and services and develops their leadership skills to prepare them for prominent business, cultural and political roles. The program is sponsored by the Chattanooga Chamber Foundation.