Kids? Fall Fitness Day Oct. 3

AMES ? Schools across the state plan to get moving on Oct. 3 by participating in Live Healthy Iowa Kids? Fall Fitness Day.

During this one-day event, students will take part in 30 minutes of continuous physical activity and be educated on the importance of and ways to lead healthy lifestyles. Fall Fitness Day is a free event for all Iowa schools. In 2011, 178 schools across Iowa participated, reaching 56,466 students.

Teaching kids to lead a healthy lifestyle and allowing time for them to be active can enhance their performance in the classroom. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students who are physically active and eat healthy receive higher grades than their more sedentary classmates. Establishing a healthy lifestyle at a young age can also provide many health benefits throughout their lives as well as deter from numerous chronic diseases and health complications.

Fall Fitness Day is held in conjunction with international Walk to School Day and the Healthiest State Walk.

To register, designate a coordinator from the school, visit www.livehealthyiowakids.org and click ?Join Today.? Plan a 30-minute physical activity on Oct. 3 or any day between Oct. 1-9. All schools reporting 100 percent participation will be eligible to win monetary awards.

Live Healthy Iowa Kids was created in 2004 as a program of the Iowa Sports Foundation. Live Healthy Iowa Kids? youth initiatives are free programs encouraging Iowa?s youth to be more active and learn about healthy food choices in a positive, fun way. Since the program began, more than 500,000 youth have participated in Live Healthy Iowa Kids/Governor?s Challenge, Go the Distance Day and Fall Fitness Day.