CUTTY'S KEIKI FITNESS CHALLENGE Cutty's Keiki Fitness Challenge will be featured in several episodes of "Cookin' With Cutty." CLICK FOR LARGE

Take a fitness challenge

"Cutty's Keiki Fitness Challenge," a free three-month program targeting childhood obesity, has extended its registration deadline to May 31.

The Keiki Fitness Challenge is open to kids age 8 to 16 and their families. The first 800 keiki will get a "Keiki Get Fit Backpack" filled with fitness goodies. Each child gets a health information booklet, which includes programs on exercise and nutrition and a logbook.

Participants will be tested for strength, endurance, flexibility, body mass, body fat, blood pressure and other key health indexes to create a base line from which to measure improvement. Then they'll embark on the Challenge, incorporating exercise and nutrition tips, and keep track of their activity in their fitness log or online.

To start, download a registration form and fitness log at www.keikifitnesschallenge.com. Then, visit a designated health center for a fitness assessment. On Oahu, visit the Kalihi-Palama Health Center, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Waikiki Health Center or Waimanalo Health Center. Check online for neighbor island sites.

Three months later, return to the same location for a final assessment. Those who finish with the greatest increase in their "Cutty Health Index" will be eligible to win cash, prizes, a TV commercial appearance and more.

The program aims to motivate kids to make healthy lifestyle choices. Childhood obesity in America has increased dramatically in the past decades. Obesity substantially raises the risk of developing major health problems.