Published: April 10, 2008 11:07 am      

UCO students, staff, faculty ‘Walk It Out’

EDMOND — University of Central Oklahoma students, faculty and staff plowed through a downpour Wednesday as they participated in “Walk It Out,” a Healthy Campus UCO effort to encourage students to make healthy choices. Flatire Burger provided veggie burgers to promote healthy eating habits.

“I think it’s important students jump on it early before we can’t reverse it,” said Ryan Hall, graphic design freshman, of maintaining their health.

Cayt Walls, administrative assistant for Healthy Campus, said each participant was able to walk out of class or work if they bought a $10 Heart Walk T-shirt. Proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association.

Students, staff and faculty were given the option to walk one of three mapped out walking trails or to walk on their own.

“Our whole goal is to educate people on heart disease,” Walls said. “We want our campus to know what heart disease has over Oklahoma.”

Saleh Alsugair, a UCO student, walked one of the trails with a group of friends.

“I came to help and be active,” he said. “It was a lot of fun.”

Alsugair said he thinks people who smoke and drink all the time will be at risk for heart disease in the future.

James Allen, assistant director for Health Promotion and Programs with University Health Services, said heart disease, which includes strokes and high blood pressure, is the leading cause of death in Oklahoma.

“We’re actually above the national average on heart related deaths,” Allen said.

People need to eat healthy, move more and be tobacco free, he said.

“It’s much easier to prevent than to treat,” Allen said. “If we could do these three things, we’d see fewer deaths due to heart disease.”

He said habits are powerful and college students are at an age where it’s important to develop good habits. Research shows that college-aged adults already are developing risk factors for heart disease.

“There are a lot of food choices and a lot of things to do,” Allen said. “College students are busy.”

UCO will participate in the American Heart Association Heart Walk on April 19. For more information visit, www.ucok.edu/heartwalk/.