WITH SO many Americans becoming increasingly overweight, Virginia has decided to bring out the big guns in the war on obesity. According to the American Obesity Association, nearly one-third of adult Americans are obese and 64.5 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight. In Virginia, Gov. Tim Kaine introduced a new program called CHAMPION, the Commonwealth's Healthy Approach and Mobilization Plan for Inactivity, Obesity and Nutrition. The program calls for nutrition education and awareness programs directed towards Virginians of all ages.
Colleges certainly aren't free from America's trend towards unhealthy weight gain. According to a study by Dr. Elizabeth Lloyd-Richardson, assistant research professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University, on average, male students gain 5.6 pounds and females gain 3.6 pounds within their first year of college alone. In their second year, that increase is 9.5 pounds for males and 9.2 pounds for females. Melanie Brede, registered dietician at the University, said in an interview that University students gain about five pounds on average in their first year in Charlottesville. Lloyd-Richardson added that she believed that much of that weight gain is caused by "fat, not muscle mass." While this trend is disturbing, it's not surprising. The "freshman 15" may not be exactly 15 pounds, but any dramatic increase in weight signals unhealthy habits at colleges everywhere.
Fortunately, students at the University already live healthier lives than most Americans, most Virginians and even most college students; the Princeton Review's Fittest Colleges in America list rated us no. 11. According to Intramural Program Director Mark Fletcher, University students have an intramural sport participation rate of 94 percent. Even our school faces a challenge when it comes to weight, though. While the University has made great strides, both it and University programs must continue to tackle the threat of obesity not only within the University but also outside the undergraduate and graduate community.
Utilizing undergraduate student outreach to improve health for public school kids near the University offers one of the most effective solutions for countering obesity trends in Charlottesville. In a 2004 situation analysis report, the Charlottesville Obesity Task Force found one in three children in Charlottesville and Albemarle overweight or at risk of being overweight. Madison House, the primary organizer of student participation in local charitable programs, does offer University student-Charlottesville student athletic programs, many of which are associated with the local YMCA. But many of these athletic activities concentrate only on a specific sport. While organized sports emphasize athleticism with both teamwork and concentration, the University should also consider creating a general athletic after-school program not focused on any particular sport. Each year, the United States spends less and less on physical education in public schools, so University students have the opportunity to share their (above average) knowledge of fitness initiatives with others in the community. Improving physical education for Charlottesville kids will lead to better health not only for Albemarle youth but for the University community itself, which can benefit from additional student awareness and health-consciousness.
The University could also advocate healthy diet options in the dining halls more effectively. Brede discussed that the one way students can personally manage their weight is to focus on balancing veggies and colorful foods into their diet.University Dining Services does work on providing healthy meal options on its menu, describing them as alternatives to the typical meal offered during the day. Additionally, Virginia Dining Service's Web site cited their use of trans-fat free oils when cooking their food as an example of efforts to make eating healthy easier on Grounds. In addition to such programs, on-Grounds dining facilities should consider a "healthy eating day" similar to other earlier campaigns, such as "No-Tray Tuesday," which removed trays for a day to demonstrate an effective way to save dishwater.
Ultimately, students can only stay healthy through diligence and personal habits, depend on personal accountability. But by advancing health initiatives to the wider Charlottesville community and to on-Grounds dining halls, students can do their part to combat obesity locally. Individuals should make their own choices, but the University can take pains to ensure that healthy habits start when those in the community can be impacted most. Only then can America stand a chance in the fight against flab.
Adam Silverberg's column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at asilverberg@cavalierdaily.com.
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