ACE regularly contributes to exercise science and behavior-change science through commissioned research. Recently, ACE sponsored research to examine the effects of standing in the college classroom setting on cardiometabolic risk factors among college students. The key finding – even small changes in physical activity result in health benefits.

Specifically, the new research results show that when college students used standing desks in class, their cardiometabolic health improved due to a cumulative 5-hour reduction in their weekly sedentary time. This relatively small modification to a student’s daily routine made a measurable impact on their health. However, researchers acknowledged that though the positive benefits were quickly realized, the benefits were also short-lived suggesting that consistency is key for lasting results.

These findings sparked an idea here at ACE – use certified health coaches to support and empower students in sustaining small behavior changes that will reap important health benefits.

Certified health coaches can easily fold into campus integrated-wellness efforts, an emerging trend in collegiate recreation per NIRSA. Integrated wellness addresses preventative and reactive student services, and certified health coaches are a natural resource to support students in starting and sustaining healthy behavior changes based on the services they receive. ACE calls upon colleges and universities to consider incorporating health coaching in their recreation centers’ offerings to positively affect the health and wellbeing of their students.