Colorado State University’s One Health Club held its first Paws on the Pavement 5k Race and Health Expo on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Colorado State University Oval. The event was designed to raise awareness of the health risks of obesity in pets and people.
Activities included a five kilometer run/walk; open to runners and walkers of all skill levels, many with their dogs. Sixty-five human participants and their four-legged friends turned out from all along the Front Range area to show their support. Among the top 5k performers were Nick Mockeridge, with a time of 16:02, and Chelsea McGivney at 23:36.
A mini-health expo followed the race, and included booths and healthy snacks for the athletes. Students and faculty members from the CVMBS Professional Veterinary Medical program conducted physical exams and body condition scores on the dogs. Personal trainers from the CSU Recreation Center and students from the CSU Health and Exercise Science Program were available for body fat percentage assessments and advice for the human participants. A World Rabies Day-sponsored “Best Trick Contest” rounded out the morning’s activities.
Obesity is a public health crisis in the United States with more than a quarter of the nation’s population considered obese. Obesity is considered a risk factor for coronary heart disease, diabetes, and degenerative joint disease. However, obesity isn’t just a human problem. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reports that nearly half the nation’s pets are considered overweight or obese. As with humans, pets are at risk for heart problems, diabetes, and joint and hip difficulties.
The One Health Club at Colorado State University supports the One Health Initiative by organizing activities and events to highlight the inextricable link between the health of all species and their environment. A variety of events are planned for the next several months to help bring together the environmental, public and animal health communities. The next scheduled event is a Dairy Industry Panel Discussion free and open to the public. This event will feature dairy industry experts from a variety of backgrounds including conventional, raw, and organic producers; public health experts; and animal welfare representatives. The Dairy Industry Panel is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m., at the CSU Lory Student Center Theater.
For more information on the CSU One Health Club and upcoming events, visit www.csuonehealthclub.com.
