2008 Woodie Awards
Web site launched to promote healthy lifestyles
Cougar Balance offers survey to assess risks of future health problems
Matthew Schroyer
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: News
A new Web-based program looks to spark health awareness among students and promote comprehensive, healthy living habits.
Cougar Balance, a Web site that advises students on health issues, was launched in August to educate students on heath issues and pool campus resources related to health.
Students can log on to the Cougar Balance Web site, create an account and take a "health risk assessment," a battery of health questions. These questions ask the participant about family medical history, chronic medical issues and frequency of doctor visits. Participants are then asked how often they exercise, how often they consume alcohol and how satisfied they are with their lives.
Based on responses, the Web site evaluates how healthy a student's lifestyle is, makes suggestions about how to improve health, and provides links to resources for additional information.
Cougar Balance Coordinator Samantha Hackbart said the feedback has been positive since the Web site was brought online.
"We're giving students information about how they can improve their health," Hackbart said. "It's Web based so you can get direct feedback."
Hackbart said students enrolled in University 112, the freshman experience elective class, were being trained on how to make use of the Web site,
After one round of questions, the Web site reported "high levels of stress" and "sedentary lifestyle," and suggested aerobic exercise, strength training and seeking advice from a counselor for handling stress. The Web site also suggested decreasing the amount of red meat in the person's diet and seeking whole grain products.
When a respondent answered that they had a digestive disorder, the Web site suggested visiting the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse for more information.
Among other features, Cougar Balance can help students devise a fitness routine and keep track of their progress.
The Web site disclaimer states the recommendations are not a substitution for qualified advice.
Cougar Balance, a Web site that advises students on health issues, was launched in August to educate students on heath issues and pool campus resources related to health.
Students can log on to the Cougar Balance Web site, create an account and take a "health risk assessment," a battery of health questions. These questions ask the participant about family medical history, chronic medical issues and frequency of doctor visits. Participants are then asked how often they exercise, how often they consume alcohol and how satisfied they are with their lives.
Based on responses, the Web site evaluates how healthy a student's lifestyle is, makes suggestions about how to improve health, and provides links to resources for additional information.
Cougar Balance Coordinator Samantha Hackbart said the feedback has been positive since the Web site was brought online.
"We're giving students information about how they can improve their health," Hackbart said. "It's Web based so you can get direct feedback."
Hackbart said students enrolled in University 112, the freshman experience elective class, were being trained on how to make use of the Web site,
After one round of questions, the Web site reported "high levels of stress" and "sedentary lifestyle," and suggested aerobic exercise, strength training and seeking advice from a counselor for handling stress. The Web site also suggested decreasing the amount of red meat in the person's diet and seeking whole grain products.
When a respondent answered that they had a digestive disorder, the Web site suggested visiting the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse for more information.
Among other features, Cougar Balance can help students devise a fitness routine and keep track of their progress.
The Web site disclaimer states the recommendations are not a substitution for qualified advice.
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