Federal funding to create MTSU center to improve youth physical fitness

September 4, 2008, MURFREESBORO– A $335,043 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant will allow Middle Tennessee State University to create a Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon announced.

The overall purpose of the Center is to improve the physical fitness of children and adolescents in Tennessee.

“Lack of physical activity has contributed to higher rates of obesity in our nation’s youth. The most serious health consequence of obesity is reduced life expectancy. Given the soaring rates of obesity among our youth, it would be unfortunate, to say the least, if the life expectancy of the next generation is shorter than previous generations,” Gordon said. “I commend MTSU’s efforts to address this issue.”

“Research has shown that lifetime medical costs for diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension and stroke are $10,000 higher among obese people than non-obese people. Whether as part of an insurance pool or as Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, we all share these costs. Obesity accounts for nearly 30 percent of the rise in medical costs over the last two decades. So, this is not only a quality of life issue, but an economic issue, as well,” he said.

More than 66 percent of Tennessee high school students fail to meet recommended levels of physical activity. Since the 1970s, childhood obesity has more than doubled for preschool children and teenagers and more than tripled for children aged 6 to 11 years.

“We believe being physically active is one way to combat obesity,” Dr. Don Morgan, project director and professor of Health and Human Performance, said. “I have a son who is a lot happier and more focused in the classroom when he has a chance to run and play during recess and physical education class.”

The Center will support efforts to identify the health benefits of children adopting a physically-active lifestyle; increase the physical function and activity levels of youth with health impairments, such as obesity, diabetes, asthma and neuromuscular disease; and develop programs to help families, schools and community organizations promote physically-active lifestyles.

Funding will be used for a number of projects, including a summer sports camp for children with physical disabilities, a lecture series, a statewide multimedia campaign to promote physical activity for children and families, and a Web site.