 A student’s body mass index is checked Wednesday in Plemmons Student Union. Andrew Torrey | The Appalachian Standing 7-feet-tall with a commanding presence, the spotted heifer may be more suited toward giving high-fives than running marathons.
Yet despite its outer appearance, the cow mascot prides itself on promoting healthy decisions, and was even on hand at the Appalachian State University Student Health Fair Wednesday.
The health fair, organized and operated by the Appalachian Student Wellness Center, incorporated more than 15 on- and off-campus wellness groups, including the American Red Cross, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Be Active Appalachian Partnership, Appalachian Student Health Services and University Recreation.
Carol B. Cook, coordinator of programs for the Be Active Appalachian Partnership, measured students’ Body Mass Index and fat percentages.
“We want to find out how much time students at Appalachian are being active compared to the amount of screen time they’re engaging in,” Cook said.
After BMI and fat-percentage testing, each student received a printout of their personal health statistics with target goals.
Students at the health fair also had the chance to give blood for Environmental Polymorphisms research sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Research.
The first 75 students to give blood received a $20 check.
Dillon L. Bobbitt, freshman elementary education major, was one of the many students at the health fair with information displays as part of Donna Breitenstein’s Consumer Health Education class.
Bobbitt’s display, “The truth about spit tobacco,” compared and illustrated the effects of chewing tobacco versus cigarettes.
“Spit tobacco has a lot of sugar in it, and if you don’t brush your teeth they start to decay rapidly,” Bobbitt said. “People that are addicted to spit tobacco by age 30 usually start using it when they’re nine or 10 years old.”
Representatives from Student Health Services also passed out information about the mandatory health insurance requirement for all UNC-system schools that will go into effect next year.
Students who are enrolled in six or more credit hours in a degree-seeking program must show proof of their health insurance or enroll in the university’s health program, Health Services Technical Analyst Frankie W. Gouge said.
Students can complete their health insurance waiver or enrollment online at studentinsurance.com starting April 1.
Story: NASH DUNN, News Reporter
Photo: ANDREW TORREY, Intern Photographer
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