West Virginia University officials will be encouraging fans headed to the Toyota Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., to dance their way to better health this New Year.

The University will showcase a groundbreaking health study initiated by two WVU professors along with an innovative childrens fitness program. The research is based on Dance Dance Revolution , an innovative video game, and Choosy Kids Club, a popular nutrition and fitness programboth of which help to curb childhood obesity by teaching children the value of exercise and healthy nutritional choices.

_ DDR ,_ created byKonami, is an interactive video game that involves fast-paced dance movement as instructed off a TV screen. Choosy Kids is an after-school health program for children that is part of the West Virginia Motor Development Center in WVU s School of Physical Education.

The activities will take place at the Mountaineer Fan Center Dec. 30-31 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel.

The revolutionary statewide _ DDR _ program, led by Ware Distinguished Professor of Physical Education Linda Carson and School of Medicine Pediatrics Research Instructor Emily Murphy, has been endorsed by West Virginias First Lady Gayle Manchin, who will participate in a dance challenge at the Fan Center.

The study is a partnership with the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA), which provided access to its members as research subjects and funding for this innovative concept in childrens health.

Nationally recognized research
p. But Dr. Carsons program is not solely focused on fun and games. The preliminary results of the first 12 weeks of the at-home clinical study indicate significant improvement in arterial function and fitness levels among the 7-12-year-old participants.

Following the trial period, the children were also more willing to participate in other physical activities, had higher self esteem and better coordination. Additionally, many parents and siblings got involved in _ DDR _ with their participating child.

Todays children have grown up with screen time�€TVs, computers and hand-held devices,Carson said.Many health experts have said screen time has been part of the problem with childhood obesity.

What makes _ DDR _ unique is that it is played with your feet instead of your thumbs, so you become more active,she added.What weve done is taken what children relate to and made it part of the solution.

The initiative has now moved into a second pilot phasethanks to support from Konamithat is incorporating _ DDR _ into the physical education curriculum in middle schools across the state. By spring, the program should also be incorporated into high school PE classes.

Lead researcher Murphy remarked,Our goal is to help curb childhood obesity and the

related health problems that come with it later in lifesuch as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

West Virginia consistently ranks among the top three states in obesity. Thats one reason she is so proud to be the first state in the country to implement _ DDR _ as part of a public health strategy.

The strategy is not only working, but its gained national and international media attention, including segments onGood Morning America, CNN and the Discovery Channel, along with an Associated Press story that landed in newspapers across the country.

  • _ DDR _ * at the Fan Center
    p. _ DDR _ is a perfect addition to WVU s Mountaineer Fan Center because its fun, simple and can be played with friends, said Carson, who will be at the Hyatt to demonstrate the game.

The WVU professor will give fans a facilitated lesson at the top of each hour, followed by group participation.

Child development graduate student Brandon Williams will come asChoosy,the mascot of CarsonsChoosy Kids Clubprogrampart of WVU s West Virginia Motor Development Center, an after-school health program for children.

Choosywill play _ DDR _ with fans and hand out tip cards with hints for a healthy life. The Fan Center will also feature healthy snacks and detailed information about Carsons innovative health-related projects, including the obesity prevention program for the National Office of Head Start and West Virginia Games for Health.

Fans need only step onto _ DDR s_ patterned dance mat and follow highlighted arrows on a TV screen. Officials plan to equip the Fan Center with multiple _ DDR _ stations.

The Fan Center will feature four _ DDR _ TV-monitored set-ups with dance mats that will be using TV monitors, along with one giant screen projection of the game for multiple users.

We think fans will enjoy participating in _ DDR _ ,Carson said.Were pleased to be able to offer this experience as a way to have fun while also showcasing WVU as a leading health and research institution.

Konami has donated home versions of its Dance, Dance Revolution video game to give away to participants each hour. WVU -brandedChoosyT-shirts also will be provided.

  • _ DDR _ * in W.Va.s schools
    p. We are excited that the program is continuing to expand, said Nidia Henderson, health promotions director for PEIA ,and that so many have recognized the importance of this effort.

So far, she noted, 143 of 160 middle schools have received teacher training and equipment.

As co-founders of the project, PEIA has invested considerable resources to the two-year pilot project. In addition, the West Virginia Department of Education has been instrumental in the school-based expansion, providing games to schools and asking teachers to gather qualitative data.

In addition to implementing _ DDR _ into physical education classes, officials hope to create _ DDR _ clubs and teams to build a social norm of exercising, Carson said. Through clubs, teachers would coach children playing _ DDR _ who could then participate in family-friendly competitions that will be hosted by WVU in the future.

PEIA , Konami, the West Virginia Governors Office, the state Department of Education, Acordia National and Mountain State BlueCross BlueShield have all been involved with _ DDR _ in schools.

Head Start initiative
p. In addition to her work with _ DDR _ , Carson is working extensively with Head Start, the nations child development program for preschoolers from low-income families, in a national effort to prevent childhood obesity.

She has served on a national childhood obesity-prevention team that was recently presented with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Assistant Secretarys 2006 Partnering for Health and Human Services Excellence Award.

The group was recognized for an obesity-prevention program it developed for Head Start. The initiativeknown asI Am Moving, I Am Learningfocuses on physical activity and healthy nutrition choices. The team worked with Head Start teachers to integrate health into the curriculum. The program has been successfully launched in six mid-Atlantic states, including West Virginia.

�€~Get Connectedat the Fan Center

The Fan Center will be set up at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel (third floor Terrace Pavilion #1 ballrooms), 225 East Coast Line Drive, near Jacksonville Landing, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 30 and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 31. Being dubbedThe Mountaineer Connection,the center is jointly sponsored by WVU s Office of University Advancement and Marketing, the Alumni Association and WVU Foundation.

On game day, Jan. 1, the venue will change to Alltel Stadium from 10 a.m.-noon so that fans can pick up bright gold Flying WV foam hand waves to take into the game.

The Mountaineer Fan Center is sponsored by United Bankshares Inc., The Coca-Cola Company and Verizon.