CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — From strengthening the body to aging with grace, the College of Charleston has a new program aimed at promoting long-term health and fitness, and it’s going deeper than weight.
The College of Charleston’s School of Health Sciences has opened a new Fitness and Community Health testing program that offers residents and students comprehensive health assessments beyond traditional weight measurements.
The program uses advanced testing methods to analyze heart health, lung function, bone density and body composition. Officials say the testing goes deeper than standard health metrics to provide long-term health insights.
“A lot of… doctors are dealing with folks who are very interested in health and body composition as they age,” Wes Dudgeon, dean of the School of Health Sciences at the College of Charleston said. “Charleston is changing rapidly with… [an] influx of individuals who are very health centered.”
Testing fills gap in local health services
Dudgeon said the program addresses a service gap in the Charleston area, where comprehensive health testing was previously limited or focused primarily on athletics rather than public health.
“What we found out was nobody in the area was performing many of these tests,” Dudgeon said. “Some folks were doing body composition scans but not many. And they’re mainly more geared towards doctors versus your health side. And then in terms of vital capacity or VO2 max, no one is really doing that and that’s as we know the best predictor of longevity and health.”
The VO2 Max test measures heart, lung and oxygen usage and serves as a key indicator of cardiovascular health and longevity. “DEXA” scans analyze body fat percentage, fat placement and bone density, which can help physicians identify indicators of diseases such as osteoporosis and prediabetes.
Student training component
Starting in spring, two students interested in health science will intern and help run the tests, providing hands-on experience in patient care and research.
“We’re here because of the students and our job is to train students and many of them want to work in some type of health care whether it’s medicine physical therapy, occupational therapy, something along those lines,” Dudgeon said. “So, they’re going to have to interact with clients and patients somewhere along the way. What we do at the College of Charleston is trying to promote experiential learning. We want that hands-on experience. There’s no better hands-on experience in helping these clients come through their testing protocols and testing procedures.”
The program also addresses common misconceptions about weight loss and health. Dudgeon said the testing can reveal when people are losing muscle mass along with body fat, which can impact quality of life as people age.
“What we’re finding out and this is where the body composition piece comes in, you’re losing body fat but you’re also losing muscle mass,” Dudgeon said. “So as we age, the loss of muscle mass becomes a significant factor for quality of life. So falling and being able to do activities of daily living. So, what we’re hoping to do is to show people that yes, you may be losing weight, but you might be losing the wrong kind of weight. So, these scans will help with that.”
The Fitness and Community Health testing center is now open for tours and testing. It’s important to consult a doctor to make the best possible health planning decisions. Residents can sign up for appointments through the College of Charleston website.
College of Charleston launches comprehensive health testing program
