Weight Watchers at IU South Bend
February 27, 2008
By Jason Overholt
According to a recent study conducted by the Center for Disease Control, approximately 35% of the population of Indiana is overweight, and 27% of that group is heavy enough to be considered obese. Laura M. Hieronymus, the director of IU South Bend’s Health and Wellness Center had those statistics in mind when she planned to offer a new Weight Watchers program for IU South Bend students.
“Obesity rates are too high, it causes diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, poor body image, and the list goes on,” said Hieronymus. “Along with an individual’s cigarette smoking, exercise, and food intake rate – weight is one of the most important indicators of good health.”
A Weight Watchers program at IU South Bend has failed in past semesters to bring in many members, but Hieronymus is confident that a new instructor and a new year will be enticing enough to persuade students to sign up. She hopes that men will show an interest in the program just as much as women.
“Science has shown that men and women lose weight differently,” said Hieronymus, “so Weight Watchers has programs designed specially for both genders.”
If enough people sign up, then meetings will take place every Tuesday for the rest of the semester. Each one will start with a confidential weigh-in, followed by an instruction period and group discussion that will cover different issues like exercise, stress, and other topics involving health. A recent study by Consumer Reports has found this program to be the most successful of any commercial diet plan.
A free introductory meeting will take place on Jan. 15, from 12 – 12:45 p.m. in room 221 of the Student Activity Center. The Weight Watchers program and information about future meetings will be explained. Those who sign up will pay approximately $10 for every meeting they choose to attend after that.
