NSU to Launch Healthy Spartan Fitness Initiative

Norfolk, Va.—Norfolk State University will launch the Healthy Spartan Fitness Initiative, a campus-wide program designed to address the obesity epidemic and the decrease in physical fitness across the Norfolk State University campus community. The program will kick off at 11 a.m. at the Norfolk Town Point Park prior to the start of the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk.

In spring 2005, the university developed a task force of representatives from the academic and administrative areas throughout the campus to address the obesity threat.  According to Dr. John Anderson, medical director of the Spartan Health Center, “NSU’s approach is based on the recognition that being overweight and having poor physical fitness are conditions of lifestyle and poor eating habits that can only be changed when an individual makes a significant and life enhancing lifestyle change.”  Using this premise, the task force developed a highly participatory action plan that includes public awareness, education, health promotion, and prevention and outreach activities intended to bring about a greater understanding of the impact of obesity and impaired physical fitness along with specific measures to address the problems.

During the week of October 9-15, NSU’s Spartan Health Center will register NSU students who would like to participate in the initiative. The health center will offer Healthy Spartan Assessments weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Residential Life/Housing will also inaugurate a body mass index competition at all of its on campus residential facilities. Additional activities include counseling sessions on Learning to Love and Appreciate Yourself, seminars on healthy eating, health and wellness program, and a host of other activities.

For more information about the Healthy Spartan Fitness Initiative, call the Office of News and Media Relations at 823-8373 or the Spartan Health Center at 623-3090.