A student-led project to establish a Ram Fitness Trail on campus, along with university-wide efforts to develop a culture of wellness, earned the University of Mobile a silver-level designation for 2024 in the national “Exercise is Medicine” global health initiative.

“The dedication of our students to promoting health and wellness on campus has been instrumental in achieving this recognition,” said Lori DeLong, dean of the School of Health and Sports Science in the College of Health Professions.

UM is one of only 145 colleges worldwide to be honored through the “Exercise is Medicine” initiative as a university that encourages faculty, staff and students to work together to improve the health and well-being of the campus community.

The American College of Sports Medicine, the world’s largest sports medicine and exercise science organization, co-launched “Exercise is Medicine” in 2007 with the American Medical Association. UM will be recognized May 29 at the Exercise as Medicine recognition ceremony at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting.

UM Kinesiology Club Projects

The silver-level designation highlights UM’s significant efforts in encouraging physical activity and healthy lifestyles within its college community. Previously, the university held the bronze-level designation.

Heather Smith, visiting instructor of kinesiology, said, “Initiatives such as the establishment of the Ram Fitness Trail, hosting health fairs, providing information about campus wellness resources and conducting surveys to assess physical activity needs have contributed to UM’s elevation to the silver level.”

Smith said the University of Mobile’s Kinesiology Club, along with the leadership team dedicated to this initiative, played a pivotal role in driving these efforts forward. The Kinesiology Club is one of more than 20 academic and student life organizations available for UM students.

Ram Fitness Trail

The Ram Fitness Trail was dedicated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 28, 2023, and follows sidewalks along the university’s scenic Pollock-Altmayer Drive. Walkers on the Ram Fitness Trail start at Weaver Hall, where a QR code provides a campus map of the trail and distance markers.

DeLong said future plans are to extend the trail and take advantage of the university’s 880-acre wooded campus in north Mobile County.

The dean said the university’s Exercise is Medicine initiatives are in keeping with the motto for the School of Health and Sports Science: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. The scripture describes the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit and urges Christians to “honor God with your bodies.”

For more information about the School of Health and Sports Science and other healthcare degree programs at the University of Mobile, visit umobile.edu/healthcare.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Marlee Montalvo and originally published by the University of Mobile. 

If you love to dance, you should continue to dance for your health and your overall wellbeing. But don’t focus strictly on TikTok’s “weight loss dance,” because it just won’t yield results that you hope to see. This was popularized when a TikTok user posted a video of herself performing a now-viral dance that purports to burn body fat and help you lose weight fast. While the user claims to be a fitness instructor, there are no credentials or otherwise notable details that impart any confidence in the dance claim.

It’s not limited to one user, though. As these TikTok videos go viral, people begin to believe every word. Certified nutrition coach Joanne Schell says to Shape, “Posts like this put value primarily on outward appearance; in truth, a six pack is either genetically created or takes significant diet and exercise changes — often to the point where sleep, social lives, and hormones [can be] disrupted and disordered eating [can] arise.”

As the user responsible for the viral dance video claims that the routine will “reduce” the abdomen, it’s important to be mindful of what you’re watching and falling prey to fad diet trends. Psychologist Sirin Atçeken tells Cosmopolitan, “We are constantly bombarded by adverts selling us unrealistic expectations, ‘quick fixes,’ and easy way-outs. In a time where we are calling out fake news, it can be quite dumbfounding that certain content even passes advertising standards.”

Truth: They woke up like this. Some people really are more inclined to find joy in exercise. But! You can rewire your brain to join that ‘love it’ group, research shows.

When experts measured the electrical connectivity in the brains of people who are recreationally active, they found that those who perceive themselves as being highly tolerant of physical effort had greater levels of ‘remembered pleasure’ afterward, according to the new study by Florida International University. Meanwhile, those who said they were not as tolerant had a certain amount of ‘anticipatory dread,’ or negative feelings, before the work even started.

The good news is that you can teach yourself to be more accepting, physically and mentally, of movement—which will help you feel excited about exercise in general and crave it more often. By trying some (or all!) of these tactics, you’ll likely notice benefits immediately, says study lead Marcelo Bigliassi, PhD. To extend the effect, keep efforts ongoing, so subtle changes compound over time. Onward!