UB 'Step Challenge' encourages community to walk more, be healthier

Registration is open now for annual event, part of National Public Health Week

The main event for the University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions’ annual celebration of National Public Health Week is the “Step Challenge.” The annual event is designed to motivate members of the UB and greater Western New York communities to walk more and be healthier.

A recent study by UB public health researchers found walking more can significantly lower the risk of heart failure in older women. The study of more than 137,000 postmenopausal women is the largest and most comprehensive to date that has evaluated physical activity within the context of heart failure prevention.

The fourth annual UB SPHHP “Step Challenge” will take place April 1-30. Registration is now open for the challenge, which is free and open to the public. Registrants are encouraged to invite friends, family and colleagues to take part; registrants will have the opportunity to win additional prizes for referrals.

Participants will be asked to log their individual step counts, with each participant’s submissions contributing toward the collective goal of reaching 375 million steps during the month of April. All participants actively stepping, regardless of distance, will qualify to win various prizes each week throughout the challenge.

A social media contest will also take place throughout the challenge. Social media users are encouraged to post pictures and videos of themselves actively participating in the challenge. Participants who choose to officially enter the social media contest must follow and tag @UBSPHHP, while using the hashtag #UBsteps19 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Winners for participation and social media will be selected each week during the challenge.

The challenge is the main public event for SPHHP’s celebration of National Public Health Week April 1-7, an annual campaign organized by the American Public Health Association to recognize and celebrate public health and highlight issues that are important to improving this nation’s health.

Visit http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/ubsteps19 to register or learn more about the 2019 “Step Challenge.”