VCU Walking Counts!

By Sathya Achia Abraham

Virginia Commonwealth University wants students, faculty and staff to take steps to improved health and fitness by joining VCU Walking Counts!, a campus-wide walking program.

The 10-week-long VCU Walking Counts! program is sponsored by the Office of Health Promotion, the School of Medicine and Massey Cancer Center and begins Sept. 14. Data collected from participants at various stages in the program will be used to determine whether individuals can benefit from a structured walking program and if they were able to incorporate moderate exercise into daily routines once the program ends.

Participants will be asked to use a pedometer given upon registration to track the number of steps taken daily, to record the results in a walking schedule and to submit the numbers to OHP staff every two weeks.

“Many people know that exercise is important, but find it difficult to actually fit exercise into their daily routine,” said Katherine Vatalaro Hill, an OHP health educator and project director for VCU Walking Counts! “A program like this will help motivate people to start exercising and will provide skills to help them continue to make exercise a priority in their everyday lives.”

Participants will receive a program package the first week that contains the pedometer, a walking calendar, an informed consent form and a short survey. Participants are encouraged to either walk with a group or on their own. Walking groups will meet at the James Branch Cabell Library on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and on Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. Participants also will be asked to attend two motivational meetings on making exercise a priority and overcoming obstacles.

During weeks one and 10, and again four months after completion, participants will be asked to complete a short survey, have their blood pressure checked and other measurements made of weight, height, waist/arm/hip circumference and caliper skin-fold measurements. This data will used in the study.

Diane Baer Wilson, EdD, MS, RD, an associate professor in the department of internal medicine, created Walking Counts! and previously tested it in a population of breast-cancer survivors. The results of her study, published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease earlier this year, showed significant increases after eight weeks in steps walked per day. It also showed decreases in mean body mass index and the other criteria measured.

Wilson and Hill adapted the program for the VCU study population.

“Studying the VCU population is important because of the status of health in the United States today — particularly increased rates of obesity,” Wilson said. “Studies show that when students enter college, they often gain weight as a result of significant changes in their eating habits.

“VCU Walking Counts! provides a way to increase physical activity levels for individuals who may not have time to participate in organized sports, for example,” she said. “Faculty and staff have also expressed interest in ‘on-site’ fitness programs such as walking during the work day or lunch hour.

“The goal is for participants to continue to exercise independently and to become lifelong walkers,” she said.

The OHP reported in March 2003 that just 34% of the VCU student population was meeting the recommendations for exercise. According to Dr. Wilson and published data, moderate exercise such as brisk walking can help lower the risk of developing chronic disease including cancer. In addition, exercise can help relieve stress, improve psychological health and help control weight.

Students, faculty and staff can register for VCU Walking Counts! by contacting Katherine Vatalaro Hill at (804) 827-0231 or kevatalaro@vcu.edu. The program is free and space is limited.