PALO ALTO, CA- For the past few months FitBit has been causing controversy at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There is petition challenging the school’s FitBit policy.
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Kaitlin Irwin a self-esteem blogger for Proud2Bme, created the petition when she heard about the university’s decision, which infringes on privacy she believes.
The University has always had a high standard for physical fitness.The new policy requires that all incoming freshmen wear FitBit bracelets to track their steps.
When Oral Roberts first made headlines–the National Eating Disorder Awareness organization created the hashtag don’t track me.
Freshmen are supposed to get in 10-thousand steps a day and will be graded at the end of the semester.Some Oral Roberts students say there are other ways to exercise.
They say bike riding or swimming is just as effective as FitBit. In the past the university required all incoming freshmen to document their physical activity manually.
Oral Roberts says they are not singling out freshmen because FitBit is offered to all students. Anyone who attends Oral Roberts is required to take a fitness class every semester.
The university says this is the next step because of technology and it emphasizes their whole-person education program. The program advocates for physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Irwin says, people have different body types and it’s absurd to grade students on their fitness. NEDA fully supports the petition because they believe FitBit can affect freshmen’s self-esteem.
They say grading students on their physical fitness may cause them to over exercise. Incoming freshmen have a lot to balance socially and academically.
In a recent NEDA survey found about five percent of teens have a pre-existing eating disorder before they enter college. During NEDAwareness week last February, the organization found 10-million men and 20-million women struggle with eating disorders.NEDA just wants people to be comfortable in their bodies.
By Angel Johnson
Contributions from The Mighty and Fierce Mobile Healthcare
Photo, FitBit
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