The Body Party

College life is not always conducive to a healthy lifestyle. In order to excel in the learning community, it is important for students, faculty, and staff to maintain their health to enable a successful academic experience. Because many students live on campus, they are not close to home. Therefore, they cannot obtain their annual health screenings frequently.

Fortunately, Frostburg State University offers the Health and Human Performance Lab, located in room 110 of the Cordts PE Center, to students, faculty and staff for free. This lab is open Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., as well as Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays by appointment only.

The Health and Human Performance Lab conducts a plethora of tests including body fat testing, flexibility testing, balance testing, cardiovascular testing, and blood pressure screenings. Many students are unaware of just how fortunate we are in the FSU community when it comes to improving our lifestyles. Lab director Melody Kentrus feels this lab is great for the FSU community. She said, “It is such a great resource to find out about their health.”
In the lab, there is a variety of equipment used to conduct this assortment of tests such as the bod pod, bicycles, a balance machine for concussions, treadmill and stairs. The YMCA bike test, Queens College Step Test and VO2 Max Test are some of the specific tests used to conduct a variety of the cardiovascular tests using endurance and resistance.

Kentrus said the bod pod is the most used equipment in the lab and it is very “accurate.” The bod pod is a machine used to measure body fat composition, caloric intake, metabolic rate, and water weight percentage. The bod pod can measure one’s weight from fat and weight from muscle. By sitting inside this egg-shaped machine for 40 seconds as it scans the body, the participant can learn how many calories they should be taking in, what their metabolism is, and how much body mass they have.

Once the test is complete, if someone wants to lose weight, gain weight, or maintain their weight, the bod pod can help them decide on the appropriate diet and exercise schedule to help them reach their goal. Graduate Assistant Tonnisha Rodgers said, “[The lab is] great for anyone who is trying to get fit or lose weight because after they use the bod pod, the results can be influential and motivating.”

The health and well-being of the FSU community is crucial and the resources like this lab provide students the opportunity to take the steps needed to maintain or improve health. Appointments can be made and walk-ins are accepted, so there is no excuse for students to miss this unique opportunity.

For any additional questions, contact Melody Kentrus by email at mhkentrus@frostburg.edu.