The Alliance for a Healthier Generation clearly states, as a matter of policy, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, American Heart Association , William J Clinton Foundation and the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation do not sponsor, endorse or recommend any external products or programs.

“We do however; provide lists of approved, resources solely as a matter of convenience for our member schools to use in their efforts to create healthier environments for their students and staff. Being selected for inclusion in the Resource Database can in no way be inferred to represent an endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation of GoTrybe.com by the Alliance, our parent organizations or partners.”

Check out the video of everyone in action!

Science Hill High School "Trybers"

The movement to fight childhood obesity is picking up steam in East Tennessee as Johnson City’s public elementary and middle schools join forces with Tennessee Health Commissioner Susan Cooper to combat this epidemic. The Tennessee Department of Health has teamed with GoTrybe.com to provide students and educators with access to the online health and wellness program until the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

“We’re excited that more Tennessee students will be introduced to GoTrybe as a fun new tool to help improve their health and fitness,” said Cooper. “Science shows healthy students are more successful in school, and that forming healthy habits at a young age can help put these young people on the path toward a lifetime of wellness.”

TDOH and GoTrybe first brought the Web-based fitness program to high schools in 17 East Tennessee school districts in 2008. Schools such as Science Hill were among the top participants. Since that time, more than 9,000 students and faculty have used the system to engage in health and wellness activities. The program is now being expanded to middle and elementary schools throughout the region.

The need for such programs is clear. More than 28 percent of Tennessee high school students identified themselves as slightly or very overweight, according to the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The survey also found that more than 45 percent of participating students were trying to lose weight.

Children gain substantial health benefits from one hour or more of physical activity a day, according to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans released last year by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. These science-based guidelines report that regular physical activity greatly improves health and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.

GoTrybe.com provides a modern, interactive and fun approach to meeting national standards and recommendations for physical activity through online fitness videos and related health content. With hundreds of videos ranging from hip hop dance to strength training, workouts are lead by certified professionals and are updated regularly to include the latest fitness and healthy living trends. Through online participation, students can also get daily wellness information including tips on healthy food choices and motivational messages.

“All teachers across the state are being asked to get our students up and moving. GoTrybe provides an easy-to-use tool that the students can really relate to,” says Coordinated School Health Coordinator Laura Matney. “We want to support the state’s mandate to increase physical activity and give classroom teachers a tool that collects data and shows their support and efforts in the best light. Gotrybe is also a great tool for physical education teachers  to use current exercise videos”

Additionally, individual teacher and student subscriptions give users the opportunity to access GoTrybe accounts outside of school; providing families with a resource for fitness and fun.

“The GoTrybe team is passionate about the overall well-being and future of today’s youth,” says GoTrybe Co-Founder Christopher J. Downs, MD, FACC. “We’re very excited to partner with pubic schools in our region and to provide quality healthy living activities and information for local students and families in a fresh and exciting way.”

“Including physical activity in the classroom will have benefits beyond just health,” says Downs.

“Past teachers using GoTrybe have reported that even small amounts of daily activity in the classroom have led to improved educational performances,” Downs says. “So, not only are we happy to provide tools that lead students in a healthier childhood, but also proud to assist in guiding them toward a brighter future.”

The GoTrybe program is being funded by a Center for Diabetes Prevention and Health Improvement grant through the 2009-2010 school year. In addition, GoTrybe looks to continue to make the program available for the 2010-2011 school year as well. This will improve the opportunity to establish a sustainable physical activity and health education program for all students and teachers.

Trybers in Action!

Funded by a grant from the Tennessee Department of Health through Project Diabetes, GoTrybe is now available to approximately 175,000 students and faculty in seventeen school districts. These school districts are located in GoTrybe’s home region of East Tennessee.

For those not in the know, GoTrybe is an online, interactive social community dedicated to the health and wellness of our youth. GoTrybe gets young people on the move by developing Active Screen Time™. “Trybers” can interact with fitness, nutrition, motivation and wellness content that supports their journey toward living healthfully. GoTrybe wants to be an inspiring force in the fight to get children and teens active while combating childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. As a result, GoTrybe’s mission is to change some of the normal sedentary screen time into activity and health education. Gotrybe.com is composed of three Trybes: ZooDoos, up to 5th grade, Trybe180, 6th-9th grade and Nextrybe, 10th-12th grade.

Things happen for a reason, just believe! – Cheryl, RD

GoTrybe.com is presenting in the HHS Webinar and would love to invite all Trybers and friends to listen in. GoTrybe.com’s VP of Creative Development and Partnerships, Robert Baggett, will be presenting GoTrybe.com’s ability to provide children and teens with a technology-driven program, based around new and social media.

For more information and to register for the webinar, visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/276513114.

GoTrybe encourages everyone to support the Physical Activity Guidelines as set by the Federal Government, and to take part in daily physical activity for your health and your family’s health. According to the Guidelines, “Youth can achieve substantial health benefits by doing moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity for periods of time that add up to 60 minutes (1 hour) or more each day.”

For a complete copy of the Physical Activity Guidelines, visit http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/.