UMO Takes a Stand for Healthy Living with Exercise is Medicine Proclamation
MOUNT OLIVE- Statistics have proven that at least 30 minutes of exercise, three days a week can: decrease diabetes; reduce general anxiety; decrease the risk of hip fracture in post-menopausal women; decrease dementia; reduce the risk of heart disease; lower cardiovascular related death; improve quality of life; and the list goes on and on. Yes, it is a proven fact that exercise yields the biggest return on investment for your health!
UMO President Dr. David Poole recently signed a document proclaiming February as Exercise is Medicine Month at the University of Mount Olive. Partnering with Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC), UMO participated in events focused on exercise, health, and other disciplines that support the EIM-OC initiative. The American College of Sports Medicine started the EIM-OC initiative in order to impact physical inactivity in the nation. EIM-OC is designed to engage the students, faculty and staff in ongoing efforts to improve fitness, health and wellness across campus with the possibility for community outreach.
As part of the Exercise is Medicine Month activities, UMO held a variety of activities including: Partnering with the Pope Wellness Center for exercise activities, offering free personal training to the community utilizing upper level Exercise Science students, monitoring physical activity as a vital sign through campus Health Services, etc. The events targeted students, faculty, staff, families, and neighbors. The goal of EIM-OC was to promote awareness of the benefits from routine exercise and improve fitness at UMO and the surrounding community.
Associate Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Mark Deaton summed it up best, “Personally, given that physical inactivity is the major health crisis of our time, I would like to think that we are doing our part to change this conundrum. We will never know how many lives were saved or lengthened, how many individuals truly experienced a better quality of life, but I am happy knowing that we answered the call!”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Research Triangle Park, Washington, Jacksonville, and in Smithfield at Johnston Community College. For more information, visit old.umo.edu.
Seated (left) UMO President Dr. David Poole signs a proclamation proclaiming February as Exercise is Medicine Month and (right) Associate Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Mark Deaton. Several UMO students, faculty, and staff are pictured showing support of the initiative.