Improving youth fitness- goal of new Sci-FIIT app, YES Center, and Well-Fit/Center for Youth Wellness and Fitness at KU
Only 21% of youth meet the current physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes per day, which is alarming as lower levels of physical activity correlate with poor physical fitness and wellness among young people. Such deficiencies in fitness and wellness can lead to a higher risk of injuries and diseases. Moreover, health and fitness during childhood can impact wellness into adulthood. Dr. Trent Herda, Director of the Neuromechanics Laboratory and Well Fit/Center for Youth Wellness and Fitness at the University of Kansas and a professor in the Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, is dedicated to improving the health of youth.
Dr. Herda has created the Sci-FIIT Academy aimed at fostering healthy habits in children. The Sci-FIIT Academy includes an app that is tailored for elementary school-aged children and offers engaging, personalized lessons that integrate science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts within wellness education. Sci-FIIT’s lessons present effective strategies for making healthy choices. The platform promotes the application of these choices through the Healthy Habits Journal, an interactive feature. The app’s courses are designed for afterschool programs and the Sports Skills & Physical Activity Camp at KU, under the Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences.
The Sci-FIIT app can be integrated with the newly established YES Center, or Youth Exercise and Sports Center. This center offers in-person athletic development programs aimed at providing young people with the chance to acquire sports and exercise skills. Located in the refurbished section of gym 216 at the Robinson Center, the YES Center will host two youth programs: the KU Sports Skills & Physical Activity Camp and the Jayhawk Performance Program.
The Sports Skills & Physical Activity Camp at KU is designed to provide children (grades 3–6) with the opportunity develop sports skills and a good physical fitness level. Experiences will be provided in a group instructional environment with expert leadership and supervision. All children will be able to participate in the activities. Activities include basketball, baseball, bowling, football, frisbee, hockey, soccer, resistance training, volleyball and more. Learn more or register for camp.
The Jayhawk Performance program is a youth strength and conditioning program. The programs focus on developing healthy lifestyle habits through participation in an organized strength and conditioning program that utilizes the tenets of long-term athletic development. Classes are provided in a group instructional environment with expert leadership and supervision. Learn more or register for camp.
The Well-Fit|Center for Youth Wellness and Fitness website has links with more information on the Sci-FIIT app and YES Center along with information on the research that is being conducted to help improve Youth Wellness and Fitness. Well-Fit conducts basic, clinical, and applied research that focuses on improving health in youth.
Well-Fit collaborates with the Center of Children’s Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition (CHLN) among other laboratories at the KU Medical Center. In this research Dr. Trent Herda examines the role of physical activity and resistance exercise training on neuromuscular function in youth. In addition, Well-Fit conducts research that focuses on youth athletic development and sports performance. Dr. Qunicy Johnson’s research examines the role of strength and conditioning programs on short- and long-term athletic development.
Dissemination of research that focuses on improving health and fitness in youth is also a high priority of Well-Fit. They aim to provide high quality content that is supported by research that is intended to improve youth wellness and fitness. Dr. Herda and his team publishes the Well-Fit Newsletter. The Well-Fit Newsletters includes concepts and implementation strategies to promote wellness and fitness in youth. The newsletter is intended for educators and others who have a direct impact on the daily activities of children.
