Peer Health Education (PHE) is giving students an opportunity to gain an increased awareness about their physical health.
To increase health awareness, Peer Health Education has teamed up with Fitness Programs, the Department of Kinesiology and the Student Exercise Science Association to provide the campus with free health assessments.
The fitness assessments will run Oct. 10 and Oct. 12 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
With work, classes and other responsibilities, many college students lack the time to properly take care of their physical well-being. PHE hopes to allow students to take a few moments out of their day to see where they stand compared to others in their sex and age group.
“As the topic of wellness covers eight different dimensions, my committee and I are constantly looking for new ways to provide students with information,” said third-year exercise science major Cierra Hessbrook. “This year, we decided to give the fitness assessments a try, and we are hoping for this to be a successful event.”
The tests are short in duration and depend on the participant’s comfort level and ability.
“I think that this event is important to put on because, generally speaking, college students do not know much about their health,” Hessbrook said. “I feel as though the mindset for many is, ‘I’m not coughing or sneezing, so I must be healthy.’ My goal for this event is for students to leave knowing valuable information about their health, as well as resources for self-improvement.”
The fitness tests have been set up in a completely confidential way. The tests are noninvasive, and the participants will not need to worry about other participants outperforming them.
The volunteers and health professionals will measure the student’s blood pressure, height, weight and other information. The participants will then complete a one-mile walk, perform push-ups, sit-ups and sit-n-reach tests followed by a conversation with an educated volunteer to discuss the results.
Students will receive a consultation and a variety of resources for self-improvement.
“Depending on the success of the event, we will adapt and look for ways to improve the event in order to continue it in the future,” Hessbrook said. “I feel so passionately that this event is important, and I would definitely love for it to be continued.”
