KU Recreation Services began its Scale Down Challenge, a 10 week challenge with weekly weigh-ins, training and community support, on Sept. 12. Scale Down Challenge, a program dedicated to health and wellness, is now used by the University to increase the use of the campus fitness center in addition to promoting healthy lifestyles. Faculty members and students entered the weight-loss challenge for $25, and winners receive cash prizes.
?We wouldn?t be able to run a weight-loss challenge without Scale Down Challenge,? said Amber Long, assistant director of fitness at Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. The main goal of the Scale Down Challenge is to promote weight loss in a healthy and safe manner.
Participants using unhealthy weight loss practices or who lose a total of 9 percent or more body weight during a three-week period will be disqualified. Also, if a participants? body mass index, or BMI, drops below 18.5, which is considered underweight, the participant will be automatically disqualified from the challenge.
?We do want [the weight loss] to be healthy,? said Jill Urkoski, associate director of fitness and staff development. ?The prize is just an incentive to us; it?s not about the money.?
Participants are selected based on their need to lose weight and become healthy.? For instance, if a person?s initial BMI is below 20.5, they will not be allowed to participate.
Participants may only miss a total of three weigh-ins, and their progress is also monitored online as well as their comparison to other participants. This helps provide participants motivation and incentive to continue with the program.
?I think that fact that participants can see where everybody else is can be helpful for comparison?s sake, but for those folks who are really competitive, I think that?s key.? Long said.
Currently 93 students and 60 faculty members are participating in the challenge, showing an increase in participation from previous challenges hosted by the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center.
Urkoski said another goal of the Scale Down Challenge is to attract individuals who may not have felt comfortable exercising at the Rec Center before, emphasizing that the student recreation center is not just a place for people who are fit or athletic.? Urkoaski said it?s about seeing people like yourself working out and being active.
?It?s another way for us to identify with people who were wanting to come in to our facility but just didn?t feel comfortable; and maybe we can make them feel comfortable by participating in programs and the possibilities of being active,? Urkoski said.
According to Urkoski, health affects students? academics and performance, as well as faculty and staff?s ability to engage with students.? The Scale Down Challenge is a way to promote healthy living for everyone at the University and for students to continue to be healthy while attending college.
?As a member of the faculty and staff, we?re here to assist KU students in getting through college,? Urkoski said. ?If we?re not healthy, then maybe we?re not as good of instructors or not as good at trying to mentor.?
The challenge is currently in its second week, with faculty and staff members having lost 225 pounds total and students losing 260 pounds total.? Weigh-ins for the Scale Down Challenge are Wednesdays at the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center from 7:30-9 a.m. for faculty and staff, and 4:30-6 p.m. for students.
? Edited by Lauren Shelly
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