Livingstone College News Service November 10, 2010 Livingstone kicks off health and wellness initiative By Laurie D. Willis It's a myth that most people gain from seven to 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas. In fact, recent studies suggest many people pick up no more than a single pound during the holidays. But it's no myth that African-Americans are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, two-thirds of diabetic patients die of a heart attack or stroke and being overweight can lead to diabetes. So at Livingstone College, officials are trying to change people's attitudes about health and wellness - which should lead to changes in behavior and a much healthier campus. Livingstone's Health & Wellness Initiative officially kicks off at noon Friday with a "Lunch and Learn session" in The Walls Center Theater. Oscar Chapman, FDY food service director, will speak. Besides Friday "Lunch and Learn" sessions, Livingstone officials plan to offer hip hop aerobics, reggae aerobics and possibly Zumba aerobics as part of the initiative. The college already offers free karate classes. "We recognize there are many challenges facing African-Americans when it comes to health and wellness," said Dr. Stanley J. Elliott, vice president of student affairs. "African-Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes, high blood pressure, breast cancer, prostate cancer and other medical conditions that negatively impact the quality of life. So our plan here at Livingstone is to begin offering faculty, students and staff some solutions to healthy living." Elliott, who walks for at least an hour daily and has dropped nearly 30 pounds in the past eight months, knows overweight people didn't get that way overnight. So he said the Health & Wellness Initiative will provide practical, common sense tips for people who are trying to lose weight. When it comes to losing weight and maintaining a healthier lifestyle, adopting a new way of thinking is half the battle. For example, taking stairs instead of elevators is a good way to get some daily exercise. Likewise, eating less fat and salt, as well as drinking fewer sodas and other sugary drinks, is a good way to reduce calories. And it's well-known that students snack while staying up late cramming for tests or finishing papers, but instead of eating pizza, burgers, fries or potato chips they should try munching on much healthier foods like vegetables, rice cakes or unbuttered, unsalted popcorn. "And even if they eat pizza late at night while studying, they could have pizza with veggies on it rather than meat," added Randi Gaines, a nurse at Livingstone. Elliott heads Livingstone's Health & Wellness Initiative. Other committee members are Gaines, Michael Perry, Terri Stevenson, Troy Russell, Kay Boyd, Dr. Da'Tarvia Parrish, Tamesha Hooker, William Orr, Patrice Evans-Saunders, Cassaundra Rhodes, Rev. Mignonne Snipes and Laurie D. Willis. At its initial meeting this week, committee members identified three primary objectives for the Health & Wellness Initiative: * Educate Livingstone's campus through events including the Lunch and Learn sessions and seminars. * Provide measurable and sustainable activities that reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, waist inches and fasting blood sugar. (Activities will include but aren't limited to aerobics, karate and weight-loss challenges.) * Document and disseminate results of the Health & Wellness program to appropriate audiences. Plans are to expand the program to the Monroe Street community and eventually ask other historically black colleges and universities to join in. Collaborating with outside partners is part of the program. Earlier this year, former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield agreed to support Livingstone's efforts. Dwayne Corbitt, an agent for Holyfield, has issued a "Lean and Mean" challenge that will pit 10 faculty and staff members against 10 students in a weight-loss challenge similar to NBC's "The Biggest Loser." One challenge will reward the two individuals on campus -students, faculty or staff -who achieve the most significant decreases in their blood pressure and cholesterol rates. A "Healthy Attitude" challenge, will reward the people who make the biggest change in their attitude regarding health and wellness. In fact, Corbitt hopes the college will produce a documentary on the initiative. Even though the college's Health & Wellness Initiative officially kicks off this week, several people on campus have already begun paying closer attention to their health. Students Sam Brown and Clarence Gregg each lost more than 100 pounds through diet and exercise, and it's not uncommon to see faculty and staff members walking or jogging near campus after quitting time. But now it's time for the campus community as a whole to step things up a notch. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.