Dr. Sonia Tinsley, an assistant professor with Northwestern State University’s Department of Health and Human Performance, was awarded a grant to provide Fitnessgram training for Natchitoches Parish physical education teachers.  Fitnessgram is a fitness assessment and promotional program for children that aims to start youngsters on a pathway to lifetime fitness and good health. 

“We are making sure the teachers feel comfortable using Fitnessgram in their classes,” said Tinsley, who piloted the program in three Natchitoches Parish schools. “PE programs are important because they introduce kids to all kind of activities.  It’s not just basketball or football.  It is intended to introduce the kids to physical activity for a lifetime of good health.” 

The Fitnessgram philosophy states that physical activity and fitness are available to all individuals regardless of age, gender or ability and that programs can be designed around personal needs and interests.  Fitnessgram assesses, Body Mass Index, cardiovascular strength, flexibility, muscle endurance and curl ups. 

NSU, along with school districts around the state, partnered with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Picard Center for Child Development to implement the Coordinated School Health Initiative.  Part of this initiative is the administration of a health-related physical fitness assessment.  The Fitnessgram has been chosen for this purpose. Through a donation from the Special Children’s Foundation, UL-Lafayette is partnering with other colleges and universities, including NSU, to implement Fitnessgram. NSU is providing training and assistance with Fitnessgram administration and interventions to improve the health of at-risk children.

“The Fitnessgram assessment test is an excellent tool to understanding where a child is compared to a healthy standard for age and grade level,” said Coach Patrick Self, PE teacher at the NSU Elementary Lab School. “The report that the software generates for each child is very informative and provides pertinent information about each child and important information about how to improve in each area.”

Tinsley’s interest in school health falls in line with a national trend of establishing school wellness policies, as research indicates that physical activity increases mental alertness. Since 2004, several bills have passed the Louisiana Legislature related to physical activity and the prevention and treatment of obesity among children and youth in Louisiana.

Tinsley’s school health research is an extension of her background in elementary education. The obesity epidemic in the United States could be managed by teaching children early about the advantages of nutrition and physical activity to overall wellness, she said.

“It’s not just sports and not just about competition,” Tinsley explained.  “Physical activity can be dancing, riding a bike or swimming.  The goal is to promote lifelong physical activity and fitness.”