"Wellness Week" promotes health and wellness at Oklahoma State University

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

OSU’s Seretean Wellness Center provided free health services and informational sessions

(Nov. 10, 2009 STILLWATER, Okla.) – The Seretean Wellness Center’s first “Wellness Week” successfully heightened awareness of health and wellness services on the Oklahoma State University campus.

About 600 people visited the center throughout the week, and the first 100 each day received free fitness and cooking items. Thirty-five volunteers assisted the center’s staff with screenings, fitness services and informational sessions.

Volunteers conducted 130 health screenings, which the Stillwater Lion’s Club and BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma provided. The average age of those receiving screenings was 39. Screening results showed 41 people had a high blood pressure or cholesterol level. Twenty-one of those screened said they would follow up with their physician concerning their health.

“Wellness Week” was held Oct. 5 through 9. The week was part of OSU’s campaign to become America’s Healthiest Campus. OSU President, Burns Hargis, supported the week with a promotional video encouraging supervisors to allow their employees to attend the week’s events. Free services included massages, fitness advice, personal training, healthy snacks and recipes, office stretching tips and a yoga demonstration featuring First Cowgirl, Ann Hargis, and Pistol Pete.

The Seretean Wellness Center has won the 2009 Corporation Champion of Health award. BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma will honor the center at a banquet on Nov. 17 in Tulsa. President Hargis will be in attendance as the keynote speaker.

The Seretean Wellness Center is dedicated to helping people achieve a balance of physical and mental health. For more information, visit the Web site at http://wellness.okstate.edu.