New UNH Distance Learning
Course to Address Youth Obesity
Contact: Sharon Keeler
603-862-1566
UNH Media Relations
January 15, 2004

DURHAM, N.H. -- Obesity is epidemic in America. The nation's youth
now commonly suffers from diseases such as diabetes type 2 that
were previously considered afflictions of old age.
“Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds,” a new, distance-learning
course being offered for the first time this February by the University
of New Hampshire and Plymouth State University, addresses the challenges
posed by the epidemic. The course is designed primarily for public
health care employees and K-12 employees, such as physical education
teachers, health teachers, school food service employees, classroom
teachers and school administrators.
From now until Feb. 6, 2004, students can register for “Healthy
Minds, Healthy Bodies” through UNH and PSU. New Hampshire's
K-12 employees can be reimbursed by their school systems for the
variable 2- to 4-credit course.
The distance-learning course comprises 12 hour and a half sessions.
Students can take it at their own pace, viewing video stream sessions
via a Web stream server.
“We recommend that students take the course as a team within
their school district,” says Tamara Martin, UNH research associate
professor of health management and policy. “We've found that
teams can be very effective change agents within their schools.”
“Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” is sponsored by a $325,000
U.S. Department of Education Physical Education Program (PEP) Grant.
If students take the course's lab, they will become trained to be
certified to administer the American Association of Health, Physical
Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAPHERD) fitness test and eligible
for a free laptop upon certification.
Any resulting revenue from the course will go to the New Hampshire
Healthy Schools Coalition to support mini grants for implementation
programs in schools and communities.
For more information about the course and to register, contact:
Tamara Martin at tamartin@cisunix.unh.edu
or call (603) 862-3653.
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