Fitness Center at the ECDHD Community Wellness Center

What we're about

The East Central District Health Department (ECDHD) is about keeping you healthy. The fitness center component of the Wellness center was begun to address the rising problem of physical inactivity. The center has a variety of exercise equipment available for individuals who are taking classes at the center or for individuals who have completed training on use of equipment.

In 2001 just 1 in every 3 Nebraska adults engaged in the recommended level of physical activity. This placed Nebraska adults at number 50 in a field of 51 for recommended physical activity among all 50 states. The data does not appear to be getting better. Among Nebraska high school students in 2003, just 1 in every 5 engaged in a sufficient level of physical activity in all forms. Having a lack of personal physical activity is a risk factor for many serious chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Many people in Nebraska like people in other parts of the country are not engaging in adequate amounts of physical activity and are not eating healthy. Subsequently, people in Nebraska are increasingly overweight and obese. Between 1990and 2002, obesity among Nebraska adults doubled, increasing from 11.6 percent to 23.2 percent. Furthermore, one-third of all Nebraska youth in grades K-12 are either at risk for overweight or they are already overweight.

Services Offered

Services are for adults only. The fitness center has a variety of equipment to include physical training classes such as Treadmills, elliptical climbers, Exercise bicycles, home gyms, step climbers and rowing machines. It also has a physical fitness class held every day with an average of 20 participants. Activities include aerobics, pilates, and Taebo.

Cost of services

There is no cost for the use of the fitness center; all participants must bring in a permission slip from their primary physician to participate. Children must be supervised by their parents and they are not allowed to use any of the machines.