Lofty resolutions abounded on campus Tuesday as University employees and students alike vowed to take responsibility for their own health and happiness.
The Duke Prospective Health Care Club, an organization that works to increase personal health awareness through health care approaches such as prevention and individual responsibility, kicked off a year-long health competition Tuesday afternoon. About 100 students and employees attended the Prospective Health Challenge at the Divinity School to take part in the challenge that will provide nutrition and fitness consultations and reward participants for health-conscious behavior.
For the challenge, each team will consist of a student-employee pair that will electronically track their progress and accumulate points based on their health-promoting behavior. The initiative is also sponsored by Student Health and Live for Life, the University's employee health promotion program.
Dr. Ralph Snyderman, chancellor emeritus of health affairs and the event's keynote speaker, likened personal health improvement to recent environmental initiatives to reduce energy consumption.
"Everything is going green, and everyone is concerned about saving the planet," Snyderman said. "But how come we don't hear anything about going healthy and saving our health? Health is an important resource we should all value and treasure."
He added that because Duke has "one of the greatest health systems in the world" and develops many innovative ideas, it is the perfect birthplace for a health improvement initiative.
"We need to start the 'going healthy' movement here at Duke," Snyderman said. "I think it will sweep throughout the United States."
Head football coach and guest speaker David Cutcliffe echoed Snyderman's vision for the challenge.
"It doesn't get any better than this," he said. "The movement is officially starting."
Engaging the audience with arm exercises and snap count calls, Cutcliffe encouraged participants to adopt healthy habits and repeated advice he said he gives his athletes.
"Practice makes permanent," he said. "I don't believe in perfection, but what we practice over a period of time will become a habit."
But it is often difficult for individuals to stay motivated, said junior Kevin Chen, PHCC vice president of community service.
"The problem with health education is that no one wants to sit in the classroom and listen to lectures," he said.
To encourage participants to reach their goals, the challenge will offer prizes at the end of the year for teams with the greatest health improvement. Prizes include gift certificates, signed memorabilia and a set of tickets to next year's men's basketball game against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Chen said these incentives will keep participants from getting discouraged.
"Sometimes, the problem with trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle is that you don't get instant gratification," he said.
Indeed, many employees and students in attendance said they understand the challenges of their goals but are optimistic for the future.
Iris Googe, a housekeeper specialist with Residence Life and Housing Services, said she hopes to lose weight and lower her blood pressure through the program.
But unlike the lapsed plans and unfulfilled promises typical of New Year's resolutions, Googe said she believes she will continue healthy behavior afterwards.
"The hard part's getting started," she said.
For many students, the challenge provides a structured and convenient way to improve certain aspects of their health.
"I'm participating for the education and accountability," junior Faith Kung said. "I want more energy, and I don't want to get sick so often."
Others, however, said they believe the challenge is a great initiative to support.
"Prospective health care is really important, and I want to be personally involved," junior Patrick Ye said.
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