UT Arlington offering in-depth health assessments through MavFit
The University of Texas at Arlington is offering high-tech aerobic fitness and body composition assessments to the public and the campus community as part of a new program to encourage health and wellness and give students hands-on experiences.
Through the MavFit program, the Department of Kinesiology has begun offering fee-based services such as VO2 Max testing, which shows the maximum amount of oxygen the body can take in and use during exercise, and DEXA Scans, which can identify a person’s percentage of fat mass, bone mass and lean muscle mass.
Many of the tests available are similar to those used in fitness and wellness facilities or hospital-based cardiopulmonary departments – places where graduates with kinesiology degrees may end up working. MavFit fees range from $25 to $90, depending on the assessment requested.
“This program highlights our focus on health and wellness across the lifespan,” said Lou Fincher, kinesiology professor and head of the department. “We want to promote the benefits of physical activity and help people maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.”
Results from VO2 max testing can be used to determine an individual’s current level of aerobic fitness as well as aid in the design of an exercise program. Follow-up DEXA scans can be used to track changes in body composition as a result of an exercise program.
MavFit is part of the Center for Health Living and Longevity in UT Arlington’s College of Education and Health Professions. Revenues from MavFit testing will be used to defray the costs of providing the assessments as well as eventually provide funding for graduate fellowships and internships in the department.
The kinesiology department also has done fitness assessments for local emergency response departments and plans to expand that work
Brad Heddins, MavFit director, said working with the public would give students a variety of experiences they can’t get just practicing testing methods on classmates – many of whom are of the same age and fitness level.
Other services available include: weight-loss coaching and tests to determine “peak power” and true resting and maximum heart rates; as well as measuring resting energy expenditure (REE).
More information is available online at http://www.uta.edu/coehp/kinesiology/mavfit/index.php.
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive institution of more than 33,300 students and more than 2,200 faculty members in the heart of North Texas. It is the second largest school in The University of Texas System. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more.
Media contact: Traci Peterson, tpeterso@uta.edu, 817-272-9208
The University of Texas at Arlington, www.uta.edu
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