The College of Charleston launches fitness and community health testing for anyone seeking to optimize their health

The College of Charleston’s School of Health Sciences is debuting a state-of-the-art testing program that will have students, faculty and staff working directly with campus and community members wishing to better understand various measures of fitness and how these impact their health.

The Fitness and Community Health Testing (FaCHT) program will assess cardiovascular fitness, body composition, metabolic rate, muscular fitness and more for those who are using weight loss drugs, receiving hormone therapy or those  looking to better understand their fitness levels. The program will not diagnose or treat health conditions.

“The launch of the FaCHT program fills a void in the health and fitness testing market in Charleston, and represents a one-stop-shop for anyone who wants to be able to present test results to their own physicians for deeper insight into their fitness journey,” said Wes Dudgeon, dean of the School of Health Sciences.

The FaCHT program will offer VO2 max testing, the gold standard testing for heart and lung health and oxygen utilization, which health experts agree is the strongest predictor of longevity. DXA scan data, which shows the amount of fat and non-fat mass on the body, can be bundled with the VO2 max results for a better overall picture of health, which can be especially useful as people age.

“Tracking body composition and cardiovascular fitness gives us a comprehensive picture of an individual’s overall state of health, which can be helpful to provide to their physicians to diagnose and treat health concerns,” said Chris Reader, FaCHT program coordinator.

Here’s how it works:

Visit the College of Charleston MarketPlace Fitness and Community Health Testing page to learn more about the types of tests offered and sign up.
Initial results are made available at the visit, and a complete report is emailed to participants for ease of sharing with their physicians.
Individuals can discuss results with their doctors to refine health and fitness programs for optimal results.

Along with the benefit to the community, the program also offers unique opportunities for College of Charleston students. FaCHT will host two student interns this spring semester, providing experience in a lab environment, managing data and understanding the science of the testing environment.

Community members interested in learning more about the Fitness and Community Health Testing program can meet faculty and staff and receive guided tours of the new lab space on Tuesday, December 9 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. RSVP at [email protected] by December 6.