Enroll now and get Active U

Updated 9:30 AM January 10, 2007

Enroll now and get Active U

By Laurel Thomas Gnagey

Organizers of Active U 2007 hope participants will outdo last year's involvement in the program designed to encourage members of the campus community to enhance personal health and well-being through physical activity. Registration for the program that challenges faculty, staff and graduate students to "start it up, step it up or keep it up" runs today (Jan. 8) through Feb. 6.

In its first year, Active U attracted 8,600 faculty and staff participants who logged some 12 million activity minutes and raised more than $36,000 for charity. Michigan Healthy Community leaders hope the eight-week challenge that runs Feb. 6-April 3 will draw more participants.

"Last year's program exceeded our expectations. Even so, our goal is that more members of all three U-M campuses will get involved with Active U 2007," says Dr. Robert Winfield, chief health officer for the University who is one of several individuals responsible for Michigan Healthy Community, an initiative to examine health issues and create short- and long-term efforts to promote health and well-being.

"Active U benefits people at any level of fitness or ability, and participants might be surprised at how small changes in physical activity can make big differences in overall health," he says.

For example, the President's Council on Physical Fitness notes that "significant health benefits can be obtained by including a moderate amount of physical activity" most days of the week through such things as housework and raking leaves, as well as more traditional forms of exercise like walking and running. The council suggests 30 to 60 minutes of activity for each day exercised, but says this amount "broken into smaller segments of 10 or 15 minutes throughout the day has significant health benefits."

Participants in Active U set their own physical activity goals regardless of whether they enroll as individuals or as members of a team, says Peggy Sheagren, project manager of Michigan Healthy Community.

"They may join on their own to focus on self-improvement or participate with other co-workers in a fun team challenge," Sheagren says. "Many units were very creative last year in coming up with their own incentives and means for promoting this important program, and we're hopeful they will continue to encourage employee participation in 2007."

At the conclusion of the program, the top teams and individuals will be recognized for their accomplishments.

Participants will receive a free long-sleeve athletic T-shirt. Everyone will be asked once again to consider making a small donation that will go to six charities chosen by randomly selected individuals and teams at the program's conclusion.

"The enrollment process has been streamlined, and keeping track of activities is even easier than last year," Sheagren says. For more information or to sign up for Active U 2007, go to www.umich.edu/~hraa/mhealthy/.

Enroll now and get Active U

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