Ohio State's Steven T. Devor Writes Guidelines For "Commit To Be Fit" Site

In January, 2002, Steven T. Devor, Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology in Ohio State's Section of Sport and Exercise Sciences, was asked to help with content for the web site for the Commit To Be Fit (CTBF) initiative started by Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman.

The CTBF program was started as a response to Columbus being named the fifth fattest city in the nation by Men's Fitness magazine.

Devor designed seven different six month physical activity and exercise programs for a number of different groups. The programs are meant to be accessed each week (through the CTBF website), and was designed to be different or additive for each week of the entire six months. The following is a brief summary of each of the seven different programs Devor created:

Childrens Exercise - A program for children to stay active during and after school. Features exercises, games and other daily activities for children up to Junior High and High School age.

Senior Exercise - An exercise program featuring activities and exercises that seniors can do at work and at home in everyday life.

Active Exercise - Use this program to become more active and gain moderate exercise in everyday activities. For people of all ages and abilities.

Beginner Exercise at a Gym- A more intense fitness program with a training element for beginners. Requires access to a gym and fitness equipment.

Advanced Exercise at a Gym- A more intense fitness program with a training element for people of advanced physical fitness. Requires access to a gym and fitness equipment.

Beginner Exercise at Home - More intense fitness program with a training element for beginners. Can be completed at home and does not require access to a gym or fitness equipment.

Advanced Exercise at Home - A more intense fitness program with a training element for people of advanced physical fitness. Can be completed at home and does not require access to a gym or fitness equipment.

As Devor explains, "The length for each program is necessary to adequately describe the exercises, stretches, and the reasons for doing them. I decided it was not adequate to simply write something with no explanation, as one of the biggest problems for individuals beginning (and often those continuing) a physical activity and exercise program is understanding why they are doing certain exercises and employing the use of proper form through a full range of motion."

To date, approximately 12,000 individuals have signed up for the CTBF program in central Ohio.

The research prgram that Devor directs is focused on the adaptations that occur to skeletal muscle during the aging process, and he views outreach and engagement as an integral part of being a faculty member. As he says, "One of the most exciting things my graduate students and I do is to take the data and results from our investigations in the laboratory and make them 'real and usable' by the community as a whole. In my view, to have a positive influence on the lifestyle, and health and fitness of an individual, is one of the most gratifying things I do as a faculty member."

— Jerry Dannemiller, University Relations

related links:

School of Physical Activity and Educational Services

Sport and Exercise Science at Ohio State

Outreach and Engagement at Ohio State

Commit To Be Fit Program (exit OSU)