“Enjoy life to the fullest,” “live a healthier lifestyle” and “lose weight” are the top three New Year’s resolutions made in the year 2016, according to a survey by Time Magazine.
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Health and Fitness Clinic, housed in the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior, is helping people along their journey to conquer all three of those goals by offering affordable, comprehensive body composition, aerobic fitness and energy expenditure testing.
“The tests performed in our state-of-the-art facility aim to assist people in tracking progress,” said Bryan Smith, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Health. “Whether you’re an athlete, someone who is trying to manage their weight or just a fitness-minded person, the tests we offer serve as a beneficial starting point in helping you monitor your progress and achieve your specific goals.”
After losing 135 pounds, Patrick Wootton, of O’Fallon, Mo., began coming to the Clinic to undergo regular DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scans. Known as the gold standard in physiological measurements, the DEXA scan measures bone mineral density, fat mass and lean tissue.
“At my biggest, I actually weighed 455 pounds,” Wootton said. “I had no clue until I had the initial test that my body was 55 percent fat. It is such a motivational factor when you see that. It helps things click and just makes it real for you.”
The Resting Metabolic Rate, or RMR, test offers data on the number of calories your body needs for weight loss, weight gain or weight maintenance. Clients can also benefit from VO2 Max testing, which offers a good measure of overall heart health.
“Not only is coming and getting my body composition measured important for my health and fitness goals, but it’s also important for me personally, because I’m a Type 1 diabetic,” said Morgan Robertson, a CrossFit enthusiast and former college athlete. “This is a more accurate way for me to track my progress, versus stepping on a scale or using a measuring tape.”
In addition to providing an affordable service to the community, the Health and Fitness Clinic provides clinical experience for SIUE graduate students and research opportunities at the undergraduate level.
“As the lab coordinator, I’ve gained skills in scheduling and working with clients, along with applicable clinical experience,” said Tayler Nick, clinical coordinator and graduate student in the exercise physiology program. “I like health and fitness, because it’s a different aspect of helping people. It’s exciting to support people throughout their fitness journey.”
For more information or to schedule a test at SIUE’s Health and Fitness Clinic, visit siue.edu/health-fitness-testing or email exercise.testing@siue.edu.
Photo: Client Morgan Robertson undergoes a DEXA scan, monitored by Bryan Smith, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Health at SIUE.