In the midst of midterms, term papers and extracurricular activities, it can be difficult for college students to mind their health.
To remind students about why staying healthy should be a priority, a Wellness Fair was hosted at Boston University’s Fitness and Recreation Center on Thursday.
About 55 students attended the fair, viewing about 20 tables that promoted everything from safe sex to proper backpack weight to healthy cholesterol in the front lobby of FitRec.
“I think it’s important for students to be able to go get their questions answered about health topics,” said FitRec employee and College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Hannah Putnam.
Amanda Mooers, a grassroots organizer at Planned Parenthood, handed out brochures and other information about all the services that the family-planning center offers.
“We approve of a comprehensive approach to health,” she said. “Sexual health is only one aspect of a person’s overall wellness.”
Planned Parenthood, located inear Packard’s Corner, is only blocks from the BU campus, so Mooers viewed the Wellness Fair as a “prime outreach location.”
“It’s just so people know they can always come in and get tested without an appointment,” she said.
Free cholesterol screenings were also provided to fair attendees. Mary Bianco, a senior technologist in the Student Health Services medical lab, said that many students come in concerned about their cholesterol.
“Here, we can just prick your finger, take a drop or two of blood, put it in this machine and it gives you your total cholesterol,” she said.
For stressed-out students, massage therapists gave out free massages to help students relax after their grueling workouts at FitRec.
Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences junior Krystal Weston was one of the many who took advantage of the free deep-tissue massage.
I’m on the rowing team, so I have a lot of soreness in my back,” she said.
The fair also had a backpack evaluation table, where FitRec employees would weigh students’ backpacks and give tips on how to protect back and shoulder pain.
Marge Dean, a representative for the sports drink Ultima Replenisher, said there are many good reasons to have a wellness fair.
“It’s better to do preventative wellness than see kids in the ER,” she said.”Instead of junk food, choose a healthier alternative.”
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