In Perspective: Heavy students prompt changes on campus

Students at the U of I are getting heavier.

So much so, that the university is making major changes to stay ahead of the obesity trend.

WCIA 3's Cynthia Schweigert puts the effects of weight gain on campus in perspective.

The recent F as in Fat report estimates that by 2030 more than half of Illinoisians will be obese if we keep eating the way we do now.

It also ranks Illinois 4^th in the country for having the highest rates of obese 10-17 year olds.

Those obese kids grow up and go to college at places like the U of I.

The director of the McKinley Health Center on campus says the incoming freshman classes continue to get heavier.

So the health center is putting in wider exam beds and chairs that are both bigger and reinforced to hold more weight.

"When you think about the typical chair, it's about 22 inches wide and it's probably designed to handle a person who's weight is 300 or less pounds. We actually do have some people who come to McKinley Health Center whose weight exceeds 550 pounds," said Dr. Robert Palinkas, McKinley Health Center's Director.

What's more is that doctors are noticing that obesity related diseases are also on the rise.

More students are dealing with hypertension and high cholesterol.

That means the health center is stocking up on medication to help treat the patients.

That's not the only thing the U of I is doing to fight the fat.

There are all kinds of classes and programs that students can take that help them eat right and get fit.