seal  Purdue News
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October 15, 2003

Purdue kicks off wellness campaign

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University will kick off the "Purdue Move It!" campaign on Friday (10/17) with a dance from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Purdue Armory that will feature healthy refreshments and $1,000 worth of prizes.

Cosponsored by the Student Wellness Office, University Residences and the Division of Recreational Sports, the "Purdue Move It!" campaign focuses on healthy lifestyles and weight management by using three initiatives, "Take It!" "Add It!" and "Cut It!"

• "Take It!" promotes increasing physical exercise by taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

• "Add It!" encourages people to add more steps and physical activity throughout their day.

• "Cut It!" supports the reduction of food portion size.

Throughout the academic year, the wellness campaign will feature posters, displays, daily Boiler Television (BTV) messages, public service announcements and other information promoting the three initiatives. In addition, the Student Wellness Office and WorkLife Employee Wellness will offer the "Keep It Small, Don't Eat It!" interactive presentation, which is designed to help participants estimate correct food portion sizes.

More than 65 percent of American adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also reports that 60 percent of American adults don't engage in the recommended amount of physical activity.

According to a study published in the February 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, portion sizes at many popular restaurants and in packaged foods have grown substantially in the past 20 years, encouraging people to eat more at one time.

A limited number of wellness programs will be available for community groups starting in 2004. To request a program, contact the Student Wellness Office at 494-WELL (9355).

CONTACT: Sue Abney, Student Health Center, (765) 494-1716, nsabney@purdue.edu.

Writer: Reni Winter, (765) 496-3133, rwinter@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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