184725 Physical Activity and Exercise Peer Mentoring: Model for Decreasing Obesity among Students at an Historically Black University

Monday, October 27, 2008

Jerono Rotich, DR , Hpls, NCA&T STATE UNIVERSITY, Greensboro, NC
Title: Physical Activity and Exercise Peer Mentoring: Model for Decreasing Obesity among Students at an Historically Black University

Description: This session will describe a physical activity peer mentoring program that was implemented at North Carolina A & T State University as an intervention to decrease obesity among students. Sport science student majors were trained to serve as peer mentors. Activities, outcomes and challenges of the program will be discussed.

Content: Though universities offer great resources for participation in physical activity for students while on campus, most remain inactive. The main objectives of this project was to :( 1) promote increase in physical activity participation among college students by providing them with a one-on-one exercise buddy /peer mentor.

TWCA (Together We Can be Active) is a physical activity peer mentoring ( exercise buddy) program which is designed to guide, empower and motivate diverse NCA& T students to participate in physical activity on a regular basis throughout the academic year. Specific objectives of this program are to:(1) promote increase in physical activity participation among college students by providing them with a one-on-one exercise buddy /peer mentor, (2) provide educational awareness on the benefits of physical activity and examples of strategies to increase participation through the Point-of- Decision Prompt signs that have been put up in all buildings across campus.

This session can be helpful for any individual who is interested in incorporating mentoring at college level and especially in health and wellness.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, the participation will be able to: 1.Explain the barriers to participation in physical activity among college students in historically black colleges 2.Identify the goals, rationale and objectives of TWCA ( Together We Cab Be Active ) intervention 3.Describe the specific activities that were implemented 4.Describe the successes and challenges of TWCA

Keywords: Physical Activity, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: NCA& T State University, Assistant Professor: August 2005-Date 2.NCA& T State University, Adjunct Professor:Jan 2005- July 2005 3.Guilford College, Adjunct Professor: Summer 2004 4.Greensboro College, Adjunct Professor Jan 2004- Dec 2004 5.University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Program Manager for Immigrant Health Program: July 2001-April 2005 6.University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Supervisor of Volunteers at the Center for New North Carolinian:July 2001-April 2003 7.University of North Carolina at Greensboro Supervisor and Founder: Faces Around Us, A multicultural Community based Youth Program. July 2001-April 2003 7.University of North Carolina at Greensboro Graduate Teaching Assistant: Department of Exercise & Sport at Greensbor : 1999-2001 University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Graduate Research Assistant: 2000-2001 State University of New York at Brockport,Graduate Research Assistant:1995-1998 1 .Presentation.I have several presentations at the international, national, regional and local level 2. Teaching. Over 15 years teaching experience in High School, College and University level 3. Public Speaking and community service. I served as a County Commissioner on the Status of Women for over 5 years and i serve on several other agencies as a member of the board of directors
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Posters : Body Image and BMI
See more of: School Health Education and Services