Friends-in-Training for Life (FIT for Life)

Learning healthy habits early in life is critical for lifelong health outcomes. And that is why the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (ULGC) has expanded its health outreach programming directly to at-risk children in our community. The Friends-In-Training for Life (FIT for Life) program was launched to reduce the prevalence of obesity and diabetes among urban youth by offering fitness and nutrition classes to children in grades 3-5 and their families.  The program currently operates at four urban elementary schools: East Lake, Calvin Donaldson, Clifton Hills and Orchard Knob.

Core Activities:

Get FIT Classes led by certified instructors are held at to encourage the children in the ULGC afterschool program to maintain at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily.

Eat Healthy, Eat Local Sessions are held for the children that incorporate weekly circle time discussions focused on the importance of healthy food choices, nutrition/fitness journaling, and field trips to farms and farmer’s markets. Nutritionists from Hamilton County Schools Coordinated Scool Health support the program by offering nutrition counseling and healthy eating suggestions to families and participating students. (Crabtree Farms http://crabtreefarms.org and the Main Street Farmer’s Market http://mainstfarmersmarket.com )

Families Together: Move More, Eat Better are sessions that encourage healthy lifestyle changes among the entire family by incorporating working out, nutrition classes and cooking classes.  There are currently fitness classes for the entire family being offered at both Clifton Hills elementary school and the South Chattanooga Recreation Center. 

Health Screenings and Education will be offered through the ULGC’s Community Health Navigator program.  Participants will also be provided with health coaching on the issues that plague their community such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Hamilton County Schools Coordinated School Health supports screenings and education by facilitating student assessments and helping to provide education in the school served by the Urban League.

Community Gardens are being established in the four target urban neighborhoods where participants live to improve access to fresh produce and healthy eating choices.  The gardens are being launched with several partners participating in the Benwood Foundation’s Gaining Ground initiative http://growchattanooga.org/home .

Impact:

The program will impact at least 200 children and 150 adults in the schools however the gardens will have a far wider reach in the community when they are implemented in the spring.  Over 50 adults and 62 children were serviced by the program in January 2011 and more are signing up as the word continues to spread.

Supported by Tennessee Department of Health, the Benwood Foundation, and Hamilton County Schools Coordinated School Health.

Click here to view our Fit for Life program write-up in Times Free Press.

Untitled from Urban League Chattanooga on Vimeo.

Student Workout from Urban League Chattanooga on Vimeo.