VALDOSTA — Accreditation, and more recently, reaccreditation, has opened doors for the exercise physiology program at Valdosta State University to expand. 

The program received the original accreditation in 2014 and applied for reaccreditation again this summer.

Now, the program is moving to grow its community outreach by putting in a weight-loss clinic.

LaGary Carter, associate dean of health sciences, said it will be similar to the Center for Exercise Medicine and Rehabilitation, which provides training to students and extensive services to nearby residents.

“It will have a strong education component as well as an exercise component,” Carter said. “Our goal for the weight loss clinic is for the individual to lose weight in a healthy way, but more importantly, be successful and equipped in keeping the weight off.”

The new weight-loss center is currently under construction but Carter said he is confident it will be done and used this semester.

The center will be allowed to prescribe patients Food and Drug Administration-approved medications, and there are plans to eventually incorporate a diabetes prevention program.

“People that are at risk for diabetes or have pre-diabetes would enroll in the national program, which we also hope to have a satellite program here to keep them from developing diabetes,” Carter said.

Carter said bringing in new divisions such as the weight-loss center and receiving accreditation is part of the program’s overall mission to putting its students in the field before they even graduate.

It’s also about having one of the best programs in the state, he said. Other than Valdosta State’s exercise physiology program, only Georgia State University and Clayton State University have an accredited program in Georgia.

Though a major such as exercise physiology isn’t required to be accredited, it only helps VSU’s reputation to have an accredited program, Carter said.

Along with its accreditation, it’s one of the only programs students have to apply and write an essay to get accepted at VSU. Students also have to pass a certification exam to graduate as a certified exercise physiologist.

“We hope it instills to our students and even to potential students that we’re still committed to having the best program that we could possibly have,” Carter said. “They can be assured that the program here at Valdosta State meets the recommended guidelines and standards for the profession.”

The program is housed in the Health Sciences and Business Administration Building and within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Outside of exercise physiology, students can major in nursing, health sciences, athletic training, dental hygiene and nutrition in the college. 

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.