Bringing Health, Fitness, and Wellness to Grand Valley State University

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Bringing Health, Fitness, and Wellness to Grand
Valley State University

• Dawn P. Coe, Ph.D.
• Department of Movement Science

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What is fitness?

• Good health or physical condition, especially as
  the result of exercise and proper nutrition.
• Health-related fitness
• Aerobic capacity
• Body composition
• Muscular strength
• Muscular endurance
• Flexibility

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What is wellness?

• Physical fitness is not the only risk factor for
  chronic illness.
• Wellness is more than the absence of disease. It
  can be separated into seven personal dimensions.

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Dimensions of Wellness

• Physical
• Emotional
• Mental
• Social
• Environmental
• Occupational
• Spiritual

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Incorporating Fitness/Wellness

• Wellness encompasses the whole body and programs
  should be geared towards contributing to the
  overall fitness and wellness of individuals.

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Corporate Fitness Programs

• These programs allow employers (GVSU) to improve
  the health and well-being of their workforces
  (faculty and staff).
• These programs may help to reduce the bottom
  line. These programs may help to reduce costs to
  both the employer and employee, such as health
  insurance costs.

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Components of Corporate Fitness Programs

• Consultation
• Screenings
• Assessments
• Behavior Change Programs
• Exercise Classes
• Incentive Programs
• Education/Resource Centers
• Injury Prevention/Care

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Areas to Target

• Fitness
• Nutrition
• Weight management
• Tobacco/alcohol cessation and management
• Stress management
• Disease education (CVD, Diabetes, et al.)
• General health education

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Goals of a Corporate Fitness Programs

• Corporate fitness programs should educate
  employees on the importance of health, fitness,
  and wellness.
• Programs should be a motivational factor in
  employees lives that causes them to begin
  adapting healthier lifestyles.
• Programs should empower individuals to continue
  with lifestyle changes that include adaptive new
  behaviors and setting goals.

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Corporate Fitness Program Staff

• Degreed health educators
• Registered dietitians
• Exercise physiologists
• Psychologists
• Registered nurses/physicians
• Athletic trainers
• Human Resources
• Students

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Components in Existence

• Work Life Program (Seminars Incentive Programs)
• GVSU Wellness Center (Fitness Testing/Personal
  Training/Group Exercise Classes/HRAs)
• Department of Movement Science (exercise
  physiologists, athletic trainers, sports
  psychologists, Human Performance Laboratory)
• Other departments (Psychology/Biomedical Health
  Sciences/Nursing/PT/OT/RT)

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Incentive Programs

• Examples from Work Life Connections
• Virtual Race to TC
• Pedometer Challenge
• Healthy Eating/Weight
• Programs should be motivational
• People will do anything for a free T-shirt/prize!

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What works?

• Motivational programming
• Attainable goals
• Non-threatening environment
• Proper education/resources
• Serial assessments
• Accountability

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What doesnt work?

• Threatening environment
• Unenthusiastic staff
• Pushing people too hard

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What can Movement Science do for a GVSU Wellness
Program?

• Assessments (maximal and submaximal) exercise
  testing
• Screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors
• Body composition
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels
• Develop/lead exercise programs
• Injury care and prevent
• Sports psychology

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Discussion