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LearntobeHealthy.org, a nationally recognized health education web portal, has launched an interactive site just for teens. The site - developed by the Byrnes Health Education Center in York and made possible through funding from Highmark Healthy High 5, an initiative of the Highmark Foundation - offers free interactive games, activities and lesson plans for teachers, students and parents. The site was developed in response to an alarming trend-- the rate of overweight children and adolescents. Over the past 20 years in the United States obesity rates have nearly tripled. With approximately 15 percent of those aged 12 to 19 considered to be overweight, the U.S. Center for Disease Control considers obesity to be a national epidemic. LearntobeHealthy.org hopes to help reverse this disturbing trend by teaching teens to develop healthy nutrition habits and incorporate physical activity into their daily routines. The site reaches teens through a medium in which they are familiar—using live action video of teen spokespersons, a cutting-edge design, and interactive activities inspiring teens to get excited about healthier lifestyle choices. The site also offers ever-changing health tips, links to other online health resources, and a personal journal area where teens can express themselves, post comments, and participate in surveys and polls. Check out the new Nutrition & Physical Activity eLearning kits for teens on LearntobeHealthy.org/teens. Free enrollment is required to access all of the activities. Register for free now. “With our elementary-level content on the educational portal gaining membership of more than 50,000 teachers, parents, and students by the end of 2007, we were compelled to add an area specifically for teens. Statistics show teens are at great risk of becoming obese if they don’t learn proper eating and exercise habits, and our new site teaches these concepts in a fun and interactive way that any teen can enjoy,” says Marcia Meehan, President and CEO of the Byrnes Health Education Center. Currently, the site hosts two educational kits— “Fuel Your Performance” for grades 7 through 9 and “What’s Your Balance?” for grades 10 through 12. Students in grades 7 through 9 can enjoy several interactive activities including “CFI- Calories, Fat (and more) Investigation,” where adolescents learn how important it is to read and understand food nutrition labels. Teens in grades 10 through 12 can navigate online body organs and help repair damage done by making healthy decisions in “Virtual Body Explorer.” Access to the new teen site on LearntobeHealthy.org, designed by JPL Productions in Harrisburg, is free with registration. New content, lesson plans, activities, and games to promote healthy choices among children and teens throughout the world will continue to be added to the educational portal on an ongoing basis.
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