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King Arts, YMCA give health top billing By Felix Hoover For YourNewsColumbus.com Posted 04-26-09 As athletic director at Ohio State University, Gene Smith knows a lot about the importance of conditioning for successful teams and individuals. As the kickoff speaker on Saturday at the annual Mind, Body & Soul program, he told touted health screenings, especially among groups that statistically are at risk for a variety or ailments and diseases. “I go twice a year,” Smith said. “I know what’s in my family, diabetes and high blood pressure.” He urged parents and grandparents to share their health history with family members so they can take preventive measures as soon as possible. Smith talked at the program at the Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA.before heading to the OSU campus where a full day of sporting events awaited, including a lacrosse match, the annual spring football game, a baseball game and a softball game. Smith said that his job makes him the “father” to 900 students whom he wants to maintain healthful lifestyles during and after their playing days for Ohio State. “Mr. Smith, you look pretty good for having 900 kids,” joked Sheryle Powell, development director at the King Arts Complex. The complex partnered with the Y for the event to take advantage of is gym and swimming pool. Powell encouraged participants to stop at education stations and to take advantage of free screenings and educational sessions throughout the day. Visitors to the health event had a chance to enter a drawing for a six-week body makeover at Studio One. Dionne Giles, a certified life strategist, insists that meaningful changes can be made in that timeframe. The studio tailors training to individuals. In the case of Jessica Hearn, who now works for the studio, she has lost 40 pounds since January, she said. Dr. John Larry, director of cardiac rehabilitation at the OSU Medical Center, promoted better nutrition habits and more physical activity as the foundation of good health. Dr. Bradley Needleman, director of bariatric surgery at OSU, looked askance at one person who headed for a box of doughnuts immediately after working out. “It’s so easy to overeat exercise,” he said. A culture shift that makes more healthful eating the norm will take time, Needleman said. Several stations dealt with mental health, including one staffed by Kathryn M. O’Connor, senior health social worker for Riverside Methodist Hospital’s John J. Gerlach Center for Senior Health. She administered a short memory test that wasn’t exhaustive, but potentially could send off read flags about dementia or other memory issues. Early detection is important because many memory deficiencies are treatable and possibly reversible |