The Lose to Win/Shape-Up project targets employees and students in Ypsilanti-area elementary schools in an effective and sustainable health and wellness program. The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation supports the $167,003 project.

“The project consists of two components,” explains Christine Karshin of Health Promotion and Human Performance, project director. “The Lose to Win part helps teachers and other school employees develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle that will decrease their risk for weight-related illnesses, improve their attitudes towards wellness, and help them become health-related role models for their students.

“The Shape-Up part of the project focuses on students and their families. It develops and implements activities to create a nurturing school environment, provides education on healthy eating, and promotes opportunities for physical activity for the children and their families.

Program activities include health/wellness workshops, physical activity instruction, website, curricular resource materials, educational packets for families, and incentives like cash awards for school employees, t-shirts, and pedometers. A Health Fair with a variety of activities will be held in conjunction with the beginning-of-the-year inservice for school personnel.

Codirecting this extensive project are Roberta Faust and Carla Smith, also of Health Promotion and Human Performance, and Lydia Kret of Health Sciences and Enos Massie of Social Work. EMU students are highly involved in the program.