Promoting physical activity in college students

Background/Issue: One-third of U.S. adults are obese and the South has the highest prevalence of obesity. Young adults who are beginning college and experiencing life on their own for the first time are a high risk population.  As many as 30-35% of college students are affected by obesity nationwide. While many college students may not be overweight currently, they may be developing lifestyle habits that have potential to impact them far beyond college.   Incentive programs for college students have been beneficial in promoting healthy behaviors in college age populations.  

Description: The New Year, New You: A Healthy Approach to Living and Learning Program was a student led initiative implemented during a BSN community health nursing course.  The program was designed to promote the health of the student population through education, awareness, and team competition. About 130 students at the university self-selected to participate in this 3 month program and signed up in teams to compete for prizes based on points accumulated.  Participants completed a weekly online self-report of physical activities. In addition the program included on-campus biometric screenings, free pedometers, extracurricular sporting activities and health education.

Lessons Learned: At the conclusion of the program, participants reported high satisfaction (99%), increased physical activity (80%), weight loss (36%) and reduced stress levels (43%).  

Implications/Recommendations: The team competition approach to promote healthy activity was successful with this college age population. Incentive programs offer a unique opportunity for students to participate in wellness educational sessions and be motivated to make healthy lifestyle decisions.