The depth of information available to students on health issues can seem too vast to absorb. Organizations like ADAPT, HOPE and SAFE provide helpful outlets but sometimes overwhelm students with resources.
To provide an easy way for students to access information, the Health Unity Council is sponsoring Health and Wellness Week from April 7-11.
"The week is a collaborative effort among all of our groups," said Alyssa Lederer, third-year College student and Health Unity Council executive chair. "We come up with new ways to help get information out to the community, and Health and Wellness Week is one of our biggest ways of doing that."
The events this week are meant to interest and educate all students, faculty and members of the University community.
"We don't want to lecture anyone with health information," Lederer said. "It is all about getting the information out there in fun and informative ways."
The week kicked off with a resource fair and continues today with a wellness session sponsored by personal trainers from 4 to 7 p.m. at the AFC.
"Whether students go on a regular basis or just for this, the trainers will be there for testing and giving out information," Lederer said.
Trainers will answer questions about exercise habits and fitness as well as do blood pressure and body fat testing.
Today will round off with a food fest in Newcomb Hall 168 from 5 to 8 p.m. Local grocery stores and bagel and donut shops have donated food for the occasion, Lederer said. And Susan Del Gobbo, former nutritionist at the office of health promotion in Student Health, will answer student questions on eating habits.
"Although we are discussing healthy eating, our focus is 'normal' eating," Lederer said.
After a day of learning about healthy fitness and eating habits, students can enjoy a day of fun and stress relief tomorrow in the tent outside of Newcomb from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"We are going to have everything from play dough, bubbles, board games, hula hoops and fun music," Lederer said. "It is just a place for people to just have some fun and think of themselves instead of all the work they have to do."
A focus on high-risk drinking will bring the week to a close. Richard Heisterman, Student Health substance use clinician, will be available to answer personal or general concerns from 10 to 5 p.m. on Friday. Students also can take the high-risk drinking survey online at www.virginia.edu/studenthealth/capsonline.html.
ADAPT will give their presentation "Work Hard, Play Hard" in Minor hall at 4 p.m. Their focus will be the truth about the drinking at the University.
Those who come to a Health and Wellness Week event will receive a free shirt as well and other give-aways. Shirts also will be given for donations made to the Health Unity Council at the Newcomb hall table. HUC uses donations to fund events that help bring information and events back to the community.
"The overall goal is to make the University a healthier and better place for all University students," Lederer said.
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