HESS hosts Dare to Compare Event

By Kendra Peek About 67 percent of Americans over the age of 20 were considered overweight or obese in 2006, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This is why Dr. Cindi Norton feels it is so important for a program such as Dare to Compare, Fitness Five to exist.

“These statistics have peaked our interest and concern for our community,” Norton, the Chair of the Health, Exercise and Sports Science department at UC, said. HESS partners with Cumberland River Comprehensive Care to host the event, the bulk of which will occur from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 23 in the O Wayne Rollins Center.

If the weather is good, participants may go to James H. Taylor, II stadium from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to complete the run/walk portion of the event. The event is open to individuals in the community, students from local schools and all UC students, staff and faculty.

“It’s a joy to me to see how excited the children are to be there, and how hard they try to accomplish each task,” senior Sherolynn Eppinger said, “The atmosphere in the whole building throughout the whole day is great.” Heather Stidham, a senior public health minor, believes that Dare to Compare is important because of the local connection. “It's good for us to do something for the community because it keeps us feeling involved.”

Norton blames much of the high obesity rates on lack of exercise and bad nutrition habits. “For a lot of adults and kids, it’s typically just grab what you can,” Norton said, adding that it was often fast food.

These habits are having many physical consequences, such as high blood pressure, high glucose levels and Type II Diabetes, which has become more common among children and teens than ever before. According to Norton, even the once known “freshman 15” has become more accurately called the “freshman 40” because of nutritional choices and lack of physical activity.

These are more reasons for why Dare to Compare, Fitness Five is so important, according to Norton. The program has been occurring twice a year for the past five years and it gives participants the opportunity to compare their own progress, but, Norton stressed, “their health and fitness scores are confidential.”

Contestants can test themselves through five components: cardio, muscular strength, flexibility, body mass and endurance. There will be door prize opportunities for those who complete all five.

The Jellico Community Hospital, Williamsburg Occupational Health and Rehab, Whitley County Health Department, Baptist Regional Medical Center will all be present at the event as exhibitors, along with other community health and fitness professionals. There will also be competitions, such as jump rope.

Norton said she hopes that the education provided at Dare to Compare can help people make the right choices when it comes to food and exercise. “You don’t have to have any special skills or training to become physically fit. You just need a good pair of tennis shoes,” Norton said.