With the new school term in full swing, students may be faced with the challenge of maintaining their fitness goals. According to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control, about 36 percent of U.S. adults are obese. In Douglas County, that rate is about 35 percent as reported by the Open Data Network using government statistics.
The obesity is not just limited to adults. The Blue Zones Project, a local advocacy group for community health, writes that in 2015 about 28 percent of Douglas County 8th graders were obese.
The UCC Fitness Center and Gymnasium provides a non-credit per term enrollment that allows students to access the UCC fitness center during designated hours. The fitness center is available for non-credit sign-ups all term for $30.
Students can access the center 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. It offers a fairly wide variety of equipment from treadmill to bicycle machines which promote cardiovascular fitness as well as an adjustable pull up bar and free weights for optimal muscle building. Other equipment is also available as well as classes.
The gymnasium is another option. The gym offers a full basketball court. Students can lay down a yoga mat, bring their exercise ropes, or run loops around the court. Hours for the gym fluctuate around events, UCC Athletic Director Craig Jackson says. But, generally, hours are Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to noon as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays 8 a.m. to noon. Fridays are open if no other sports events are scheduled.
For further information, contact Craig Jackson at (541) 440-7729. His office is located in P.E. Complex.