September 15, 2021

BSU Announces New Wellness Program to Encourage a Healthier Lifestyle

Commit to Fit Program to Provide Holistic Experience for Campus Community

Commit to Fit Program to Provide Holistic Experience for Campus Community

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Cassandra Robinson, crobinson@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-4336

(BOWIE, Md.) – With the return of Bowie State University students and employees to the campus, a new “Commit to Fit” wellness program will soon launch to help the community manage the ongoing stress of the pandemic with a comprehensive array of fitness, nutrition and mental health opportunities for everyone.

“A lot of people were stressed, overate, and put on a lot of weight in the past year,” said Dr. Rita Wutoh, BSU Director of the Henry Wise Wellness Center. “This is a good time to come together, reconnect and support each other around nutrition and exercise, and embrace the whole idea of wellness and positivity.”

With a fall 2021 launch, the eight-week “Commit to Fit” program will create a healthy, holistic experience designed by the Department of Athletics, Henry Wise Wellness Center, and the Department of Human Resources.

The hybrid wellness program will include a 5k walk around the campus and offer a host of fitness classes to include yoga, boot camp, and Zumba among other fun activities. Participants will be able to register in the coming weeks. They can expect to participate in virtual cooking demonstrations from BSU Dining Services to be broadcast on BSU-TV and live streamed, while community partners Food Lion and Giant Foods will offer nutritional counseling.

Screening tests such as blood pressure evaluations and Body Mass Index calculations will be conducted by the Wellness Center medical staff. Stress management techniques such as meditation, art therapy, and daily journaling will also be encouraged.

To encourage and reward participation, registrants can look forward to incentives such as fitness swag, giveaways, and challenges.

“This program is important within the African American community, because we are overrepresented in many chronic conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and strokes partly due to our diet,” said Dr. Wutoh. “This program will help members of our community address these issues and use university resources to help improve their health and have a stronger community.”

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.