Students can learn how to avoid unwanted weight gain through several classes offered at Student Recreation Services.

The ABCs of Weight Management class offers five sessions that allow direct participation to build on healthy eating that stem from scientific principles, said Martha O’Gorman, registered dietitian and nutrition consultant at the Rec.

O’Gorman said the program is a collaborative work of the Student Recreation Services, which provides experience for the nutrition interns in the Family, Consumer and Nutrition Sciences graduate program.

“Recreation Services is able to provide student level nutrition outreach through one-on-one counseling as well as speakers and special programs such as this,” she said.

O’Gorman said the philosophy behind the class is participants can learn how to redefine their ideas of what weight management is.

“Weight management is not gaining during pivotal life stages such as the first year of college, not regaining lost weight and, when achieving weight loss, keeping it off,” she said.

The first class met Sept. 24 and was called “Jump Into Action.” Participants discussed how they can learn to monitor their caloric intake and set behavioral goals. The next class will be held Oct. 8 and is called “Walk This Way.” The class will introduce the 10,000 Steps Program.

“Participants will be learning to constructively analyze their own food journals,” O’Gorman said. “Change occurs when change happens, whether it is eating more healthfully or walking a greater

distance.”

The Oct. 22 class, “Skip the Hype,” will teach participants to challenge their own nutrition, supplement, food and exercise myths. “Logging and Jogging,” the Nov. 5 class, will emphasize the individuality of the group and provide alternative approaches to food records, O’Gorman said.

The class sessions end on Dec. 5 with “Roll With the Holidays,” which will provide participants with strategies on how to avoid weight gain during winter break, she said.

Students said a class on weight management is helpful for those who want to attend.

Debra Franklin, senior health administration major, said this class will help her down the road.

“When you get older weight management becomes important, and I think I should start now,” she said. “It’s better for the future.”

Sophomore biology major Nerihan Hadji said he is interested in the class since he’s healthy, maintains his weight and believes Recreation Services helps achieve his goals.

“I try to stay healthy since I am at the Recreation Services every other day, if not every day,” he said.