Statewide plan encourages fitness

The West Virginia Physical Activity Plan, developed to promote physical activity and improve the health and quality of life for the citizens of West Virginia, will be released today during a ceremony held in Charleston.

WV Physical Activity Day will be celebrated today in schools and communities across the state. The purpose of the day is to celebrate the launch of "Active WV 2015: The WV Physical Activity Plan." The plan will be announced at a ceremony in the state capitol at noon.

The plan is modelled after the National Physical Activity Plan launched in 2010, and it aims to get West Virginians more physically active as well as teach the benefits of being physically active.

This plan hopes to combat the obesity epidemic and to create a healthier state, said Shannon Holland, chair of Communications of the WVPAP Coordinating Committee and executive director for WV On the Move.

"Increased physical activity with the implementation of this plan can be key to turning that epidemic around in West Virginia," Holland said.

Carrying out the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan requires involvement from eight main sectors: Health Care, Public Health, Education, Business & Industry, Mass Media, Parks/Recreation/Fitness/Sports, Transportation/Land Use/Community Planning, Volunteer and Non-Profit, while promoting physical activity throughout the state.

"It was a strategic process to finalize this plan that involves teamwork from all eight sectors," said Eloise Elliot, chair of the WVPAP Coordinating Committee and Ware Distinguished Professor in the College of

Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.

To celebrate the launch of the plan, the motto for the celebration encourages citizens to "Be Wild. Be Wonderful. Be Active."

At the State Capitol, NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins and "America's Got Talent" winner Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. will join Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and many state lawmakers to celebrate WV Physical Activity Day. The Capitol Rotunda will showcase many physical activity demonstrations throughout the day and a "fun run" will begin on the Capitol steps at 1:30 p.m.

Elliot said nearly 33,000 kids from 220 schools are registered to perform the "Cupid Shuffle," a popular dance, at 1:00 p.m. This performance is designed to draw attention to the importance of physical activity throughout the state in a way that shows students it can be fun, she said. Students from the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences will also participate in the event.

"In addition to the activities at the Capitol and at the schools, there are many community events going on throughout the state as well at places such as senior centers and fitness centers," Elliot said. "We may not have all of these events captured on the website, but there are many different activities going on to

celebrate WV Physical Activity Day."

Elliot said New Year's resolutions may inspire students to be more active during the new year, and there are many opportunities on campus for students to get active.

"Students can walk and use active transport to get around campus, they have the Student Recreation Center to use, and there are many outdoor opportunities around Morgantown as well," Elliot said. "One of the key messages of the plan is to take advantage of those opportunities and make it a priority in your life to be physically active everyday."

Dave Weimer, Student Recreation Center program manager, said the facility keeps daily numbers that are similar every year.

"Normally, the first Monday back after Winter break is the busiest day of the year," Weimer said.

He said a busy day for the Rec Center involves 4,500 to 5,000 guests a day, and most of those busy days are during the beginning of the Spring semester. Weimer said he believes the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan will motivate students to be physically active and visit the Rec Center.

The West Virginia Physical Activity Plan is supported by WVU's College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, West Virginia on the Move Inc., and the WV CARDIAC Project. Thirty-five counties in the state have signed the resolution to support the Jan. 19 as West Virginia Physical Activity Day.