West Lauderdale Middle School is now officially part of Project Fit America.

School officials celebrated the acquisition of a new playground, funded through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation.

The project aims to get kids moving and having fun, in order to fight the state's obesity rate.

"Well, I think it's just important every day for students to be active, for healthy lives, so they can be more physically fit," said principal Kevin Cheatham. "Help cut down on long-term ailments and illnesses and just to make it a lifestyle for our students each and every day."

Cheatham said the school will test students before and after the school year as part of a study.

The goal is to find out if being more active also leads to better school attendance and better academic success.