justin.schneider@heraldbulletin.com

Stomping their feet to Euro-disco beats and flashing fluorescent lights, a group of Anderson fifth-graders took their first steps toward a healthier lifestyle.

On Thursday, Madison Health Partners launched its “Just a Bit Gets You Fit” program at Eastside Elementary School. The organization hoped to get students excited about physical fitness with C’motion, a dance video game similar to Dance Dance Revolution.

Jason Meier of C’motion brought a flat-screen video display and 40 dance mats for students to stomp along.

“You guys have music class, right? Step to the beat!” Meier commanded as the students fell into a rhythmic march.

Eastside has given a name to its own version of the program, “Body and Mind.” Over the next 10 weeks, more than 80 fifth-graders will track their physical activity in a log book, with a goal of 30 minutes per day.

On Thursday, students of teachers Angela Kelich, Brian Williams, Mike Welch and Heather Barrow, filed into the gymnasium where each received a step-counter. Amy David, community health initiatives director for Anthem, recommended students take 10,000 steps a day in order to improve their health.

The group was split in half with 40 students bouncing on the dance mats, while the other 40 walked in a circle, all in an attempt to increase their step count. David said Eastside kindergartners had the highest body mass index, or BMI, of school in Anderson Community School Corp.

“We will record their BMI today, based on their height, weight and birth date,” David said. “The higher the BMI, the more at risk a student is of complications. Obesity is a problem.”

Rick Zachary, director of community health initiatives for the Madison Health Partners, said the organization was founded by General Motors Corp. and the UAW after it was found that Anderson had the highest health care costs of any GM town in America. Its board now includes representatives of Madison County’s three hospitals, one from the Madison County Health Department, one from the city of Anderson and one each from GM and the UAW.

“We’re trying to get kids involved in fitness,” Zachary said. “If they’re aware of the health, that can help get them motivated a bit. We do have some obesity.”

As 10-year-old Ryan Fisher did a speed walk around the gym, he never broke stride as he looked down at his step counter.

“I’m in the thousands,” he said. Fisher had never played a game like C’motion and, when asked if it was easy or hard, said “A little of both. It was really fun.”

Students rotated mats, each getting a turn to play C’motion using the platform connected to the game. As arrows representing up, down, left and right floated to the top of the screen, students stepped on the corresponding arrow to score points.

Janet Mathavich, dietitian at Community Hospital Anderson who serves on the Wellness Committee for Madison Health Partners, said a similar program would soon be coming to Anderson Elementary School.