With the demands and pressures of college life, staying active and using fitness as medicine has become an important focus for college students.
Cedarville University’s exercise science program recently partnered with Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC), an initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine, to promote physical activity as a vital component of student health and well-being.
The EIM-OC's partnership with Cedarville’s exercise science program aims to make fitness a daily part of campus culture by assessing physical activity at every student health visit, providing students with the tools necessary to strengthen healthy physical activity habits and connecting university health care providers with health fitness specialists.
By partnering with Cedarville’s University Medical Services (UMS), the fitness recreation center and students in the exercise science program, the EIM-OC's campaign will strengthen and streamline health and wellness for students.
“College years are often marked by high stress and uncertainty,” said Dr. April Crommett, director of the exercise science program at Cedarville University. “By promoting exercise as a form of medicine, we not only offer students a healthy outlet for managing stress but also lay the foundation for lifelong wellness habits that can benefit them well beyond their time on campus.”
Dr. Misti Grimson, medical director at Cedarville, will coordinate efforts with UMS to assess whether students would benefit from adding exercise to help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, manage cholesterol and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. By screening students at medical visits, UMS will refer patients to work with exercise science students to create personalized fitness regimens as part of a comprehensive health plan when deemed appropriate.
EIM-OC also affords exercise science students opportunities to plan events that encourage healthy lifestyles. Despite the partnership having just begun, Cedarville’s Exercise Science Program has already hosted a “Glow Run”, a 5K event featuring glow sticks, music and community fellowship, and a "Mini Arnold Strength Competition” where participants competed in squat, bench press and deadlift challenges.
“Physical activity is a cost-effective method that boosts our immune systems, helps reduce depression and anxiety, improves memory and learning, boosts confidence and improves overall well-being,” said Crommett. “I am excited about these outcomes and how we can positively impact the mental and physical lives of the faculty, staff and students on campus both now and well into the future.”
By partnering with the EIM-OC, Cedarville University’s exercise science program is empowering students to promote healthier lifestyles while also developing their skills as future health care professionals.
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.