Grand Valley joins global health and wellness initiative

In an effort to maintain positive health and wellness on the campuses of Grand Valley, the university has joined the global initiative, Exercise is Medicine on Campus.

EIM-OC, sponsored by the American College of Sports Medicine, encourages universities and colleges to promote physical activity on campus among students, faculty and staff.

Amy Gyorkos, assistant professor of movement science, explained that, on average, physical activity declines throughout the college years for students, with almost half of all students failing to achieve the recommended amount of physical activity. Through this initiative, Gyorkos hopes to reverse these "unfavorable trends."

"Exercise indiscriminately benefits everyone, and that is something to get behind and get excited about," Gyorkos said. "Members of our community of Lakers are at different levels of awareness, motivation and commitment to get physically active. We look forward to promoting a culture that encourages physical activity for all."

The EIM-OC initiative will officially kick off at Grand Valley with a two-mile walk around the Allendale Campus with President Thomas J. Haas, Louie the Laker and the Laker Marching Band. "Walk with the President" will take place Friday, October 7, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Cook Carillon Tower.

Then, on November 1 at 10 a.m. in the Kirkhof Center's Grand River Room, Barry Franklin, director of preventative cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation at William Beaumont Hospital, will present "Exercise is Medicine: The Underfilled Prescription."

During his presentation, Franklin will connect the importance of physical activity to compressing morbidity and lowering mortality rates, while emphasizing the positives of building a supportive culture of health and wellness at Grand Valley.

Franklin's talk will be preceded by an informal networking and Q&A session with students at 9:30 a.m.

For more information, visit the EIM-OC website.