Wellness Program for Undergraduate Students - Research Paper Example

Wellness Program for Undergraduate Students Wellness programs are gaining a lot of popularity with increasing numbers of organization turning to them as a panacea for health fitness and healthy living. Hailed as a ‘preventive medicine movement’, the target has shifted focus from previously targeted group of working adults to the youths especially in colleges. A report by Centre for Disease Control and Prevention report that was carried out from 2012,found that “almost 17% of youth were obese in 2009-2010”.The percentage of boys aged between 2 to 19 increased significantly from 14.0 percent in 1999 -2000 to 18.6 percent in 2009-2010.However,there was no reported significant change in girl’s obesity percentage between the time periods(13.8 in 1999 -2000 and 15.0 percent in 2009-2010).From these clearly the scope of wellness programs should be made more broader to include children as well as adults. Of significant important in this matter, is the issue of college weight gain especially by those that have been found to be living away from home for the first time in their lives. Numerous researchers have studied this phenomenon extensively and concluded that “ as many as 75 percent of the students surveyed, gained between 1.3 and 3.3 kg in the early terms of their college careers”. Furthermore, according to Hovell et al., “it has been shown that female college students gain weight at a rate 36 times higher than their none-college-matched peers”. Moreover, that “the number of overweight and obese students increased from 18 to 31 percent” (Gropper et al). Weight-related problems in a person’s latter part of life more often than not stem from the risk associated with the excesses of youth and over-weight problems. It must be understood that the weight gain in undergraduate students are also accompanied by respective gains in body fat making them susceptible later on in life to cardiovascular and heart related problems and/or even death. Among the female college students living on campus research has found that bad eating habits or bad dietary practices was the major cause of weight gain, apart from academic work load. In contrast, the males’ excessive consumption of alcohol is thought to be the reason for their weight gain. Moreover, lack of adequate exercises and paying keen attention to healthy eating habits that includes the consumption of fruits and vegetables as opposed to high frequency of junk food consumption has greatly contributed to undergraduates’ weight gain factors, in addition, to environment and residence changes (Walters 31). The wellness program providers Wellness programs whose scope encompass the need for physical fitness, reduction and management of stress, and the observation of a healthy nutrition and dietary needs, reduction of alcohol and chemical dependence have as a result been initiated in an attempt to curtail and stem the long term affects that as a consequence may follow the problem of weight gain. The purpose of these programs is geared towards cultivating and maintaining a healthy and balanced psychologically and mentally balanced environment. A number of leading American companies have are offering to their employees versions of these programs, with some even “offering lower health insurance premiums, gift cards and cash to participating employees”. This company initiative towards “healthy living” has resulted into positive returns on investment for employers as a result of reduced health care costs on one hand, while benefiting employees by according higher job satisfaction and enhanced morale. University-based wellness initiated system In the colleges, the students’ wellness programs are slightly different in the methods of execution but the aim still remains the same (Nellie130). Third Party Payer: Wellness program involving third parties in which different groups in the university are reimbursed for the organized programs. Undergraduates under their parent’s health insurance have their families making payments. University Dietary Practitioners, University Fitness Trainers, Students Clubs and Organization: All work together through educating students and helping undergraduates towards living healthy lifestyles by exposing them to wellness programs available in the university. On-Campus Fitness Facilities, Learning Sessions and Activities/Virtual Training Courses: Third party funds are used to in the organization; in collaboration with the assistance of Trainers, Dietary Practitioners, and Student’s clubs. College Students are encouraged to interact with all groups in the Wellness system ostensibly to learn fro each other about wellness programs they have participated in. Strategies for Introducing college students oriented wellness programs Cooperation with different students groups Student groups are well known and respected by undergraduates, therefore stand a better chance of successfully acting as conduits for initiating wellness programs. Further, through the participation of various fraternities and different college sports teams, initiatives towards a healthier living could be made popular among students. Fitness classes’ registration and availability: Since freshmen students are at a higher risk of weight gain; ensuring spots for first year students in all fitness related classes could be an easier step towards achieving student wellness living. The demand for such classes could be made open to other interested students (London 66). Preemptive actions and parent’s involvement: This is through initiating cooperation by the university administration with the student’s parents by seeking their support and encouragement in their undergraduate students’ wellness programs in the college. Professor’s involvement: Am approach where professors teaching targeted courses invites someone to speak at the end of class period about wellness programs. Nutrition, Carbohydrate and Calorie Count Information: In this approach the university employs its discretion by demanding restaurants and fast food chains around the campus to display nutritive components of their food menu to the students in open places where everybody can see and make healthy choices of consumption. Healthy Lifestyle Challenges and prices: This approach involves offering incentives to increase participation in wellness programs. This could be used to increase popularity of wellness events. Works Cited Hovell, M.F., Joiner, T.E., Vohs, K.D., Heatherton, T.F., (2008) Risk of excess weight gain Nellie M. Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Exercise Epidemiology. Dallas: University Press of America, 2003. Print. London, Manuel. Achieving Performance Excellence in University Administration: A Team Approach to Organizational Change and Employee Development. New York: Praeger, 1995. Print. Walters, Peter, and John Byl. Christian Paths to Health and Wellness. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2013. Print Colleges in the Middle Atlantic States. Petersons, 2009. Print Read More