Teens are getting help off the couch and into physical fitness with the teaming of 24 Hour Fitness Facilities and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. 24 Hour Fitness is offering almost an entire semester of workout time to those teens who make a pledge to physical health, but so far very few local students are taking advantage of the new program.

According to Kenny Rogers of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, high school students from 14 years old to 18 can sign up online to get the four-week governor challenge. "They [teens] must be active 30 to 60 minutes a day for four weeks," Rogers said.

The program has been up and running since the first of January. As of press deadline this week, La Cañada High School had no one registered, only one Crescenta Valley High School student had registered, and just five from Clark Magnet High School in La Crescenta are taking advantage of the offer.

The agreement is strictly on the respect system, no teacher or parent needs to sign a daily workout program. After signing up on line the teen will receive a four week "Teen Fitness Pass" that allows them to go to a 24 Hour Fitness facility near them. After completing the first four weeks teens can then choose to download a free 90-day pass.

The program is part of Schwarzenegger's plan on battling the ever growing problem of fatness in children. Obesity is a problem faced by Californians, young and old, not only with the individual health but with rising health costs to the state, Rogers said. "The governor has said that we [citizens of the state] have gained 360 million pounds," Rogers said.

According to statistics 41 percent of California teens meet minimum daily necessities for physical activity. In the last 30 years the rate of childhood obesity has doubled for children between the ages of 12 and 19.

In September Schwarzenegger held a summit on health and fitness. The chief executive officer of 24 Hour Fitness, Mark Mastrov, attended that meeting and prepared a commitment to support the Girls and Boys Clubs and to the governor through this free teen pass program, Rogers said. The hopes of the program are to get teens into a healthy practice of working out.

The costs of today's teens being inactive is massive, in light of the probable for getting type two diabetes as they age, Rogers said. "These teens are our future. In all likelihood if you are inactive as a teen you will be inactive as an adult," Rogers said. He added that getting used to a workout routine will help the teens grow into healthier adults with less illness, building a stronger work force and stronger California. Schwarzenegger knows the cost to the state through health problems but also understands the advantage of physically fit.

"It provides self esteem to the individual," Rogers said of regular exercise. "It also helps students do better in school. "To register high school students, go online to www.calgovcouncil.org/register to take the four-week Governor's Challenge and print the free "Teen Fitness Pass."

Free passes can be picked up at 24 Hour Fitness facilities between the hours of 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Students need to call the selected facility to set up a pass opening appointment. A parent or guardian must accompany the student on their initial visit to the sign a liability waiver. 24 Hour Fitness facilities in the area are in Glendale at 240 N. Brand Blvd. and 450 N. Brand Blvd., and in Pasadena at 465 N. Halstead St. and 525 E. Colorado Blvd.