What is the THINK program?

THINK stands for translational health in nutrition and kinesiology. The program encompasses a novel curriculum designed to educate students about nutrition and exercise science while integrating physical activities into the classroom setting. This occurs against a backdrop of STEM education designed to promote the health and well-being in youth from a science-based perspective.

The THINK program always begins with the introduction of a health-related theme relevant to nutrition or exercise science education. It can be anything from a topic on “Warm-up and Stretching” to “Thermoregulation” in exercise science. In Nutrition it can cover a topic such as “Choosing your Favorite Sports Drink” to “Plant-Based Options”. This is followed by hands-on clinical experiences using different pieces of equipment such as goniometers to measure range of motion, ECG’s to measure heart rate and rhythms during exercise, or bio-impedance and skin calipers to measure body composition. This allows participants’ to be proactive in learning more about their own bodies and how it functions in response to exercise.

Structured physical activities that reinforce educational and clinical experiences are actually infused into the classroom. These activities are designed to promote creative thinking (brain games), team play, self-expression, and fun. Physical activities can be in the form of relays, team sports, and individual fitness activities or in the form of designing one’s own warm-up and stretching program for a particular sport. The program underscores the importance of creating a culture of health and fitness among our nation’s youth thereby reversing the current “obesity” and “inactivity” trends in youth.

Recently, the program has integrated social emotional learning into the curriculum to to help participants set and achieve goals, reduce barriers to exercise, make responsible decisions, develop better communication skills, and create positive social networks.

It is hoped that graduates of the THINK program are empowered to improve their own personal lifestyle behaviors, inspired to serve as health ambassadors for their families/communities, and motivated to pursue STEM-related careers in the health sciences.

About THINK

THINK VISION

To inspire our nation’s youth to “THINK” about their nutrition and exercise options and better understand the importance of taking optimal care of their bodies from a nutritional and physical perspective. Eating well and engaging in active, healthy lifestyle behaviors is imperative for reducing chronic medical diseases and improving quality of life. Our vision is to create a culture of health and fitness in our nation youth of today so that they can enjoy a higher quality, more productive, and longer life span in the future.

THINK MISSION

To empower youth to lead active, healthy lifestyles applying information learned in nutrition and exercise science. Our mission is to develop the next generation of healthy, fit, and informed youth who can serve as health ambassadors for their families and communities. Furthermore, we hope to expose youth to the variety of career options in health promotion/ disease prevention and encourage them to pursue STEM-related careers in the health sciences.

The THINK program employs a 3-component model that interfaces educational themes with clinical experiences and relevant physical activities against a backdrop of STEM education:

Educational Themes

Embrace health-related topics such as physical fitness, cardiac and skeletal muscle physiology, thermoregulation, and obesity prevention.

Clinical Experiences

Engage students in hands-on laboratory activities that teach one how the body responds to human movement while also reinforcing educational themes.

Structured Free-Play

Utilize fun, enjoyable activities that enhance motor skill acquisition and physical fitness.

Accomplishments

In the last several years, the THINK program has collaborated with established after-school programs and has demonstrated significant improvements in physical, physical fitness, and nutrition knowledge/behaviors in children and adolescents. Our positive findings underscore the importance of extending the THINK program throughout the community to create a culture of health and fitness among our nation’s youth.

THINK Program Creator

Arlette Perry joined the University of Miami faculty and became Director of the Laboratory of Clinical and Applied Physiology (formerly known as Human Performance and Research Laboratory) in 1981. She recently stepped down as Chair after 17 years of service to focus on the THINK program and her research in cardiovascular physiology and women’s health. Dr. Perry holds a secondary appointment in the School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine. Her research focuses on cardiovascular physiology (reducing metabolic risk factors), obesity prevention, women’s health, and pediatrics. A former secondary school teacher, Perry earned a Ph.D. in exercise physiology from New York University and serves as a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and The Obesity Society. In addition, she serves as a reviewer for several professional journals including Obesity Research, Journal of Sports Nutrition, Journal of Pediatrics, and the American Heart Journal.

In 2004, Dr. Perry worked on the first version of the THINK program in partnership with the Teaching and Learning department for their “Project Succeed” grant. The goal of that project was to assist teachers in translating information about exercise, nutrition, and fitness using Math and Science to help teachers teach elementary students about their own health and fitness. This led to a grant awarded by the Children’s Trust Foundation to improve healthy lifestyle behaviors and physical fitness of minority adolescents attending a University of Miami summer program. In that program, adolescents evidenced gains in physical fitness that were maintained four months after the study’s completion. More recently, Dr. Perry received a grant from an anonymous foundation to partner with the YMCA of Greater Miami in their after-school programs to empower children with the necessary tools to improve their own physical fitness, personal health, and lifestyle behaviors. Given very positive results, we hope to extend the THINK program regionally so that our culture of health and fitness can be extended to a broader population of our nation’s youth.

View Dr. Arlette Perry Full Profile

View Dr. Arlette Perry CV

THINK Research

Can a translational health modular summer program positively impact minority adolescent health and wellness?

Authors: Edwards, E.S., Cutrono, S., Edwards, D.A., Stoutenberg, M., & Perry, A.C.

Presented at: the 58th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Annual Meeting, June 2nd, 2010, Baltimore, Maryland

Body Image Dissatisfaction Is Related to Measures of Obesity in Minority Boys and Girls

Authors: Emily Flanagan MS, Arlette Perry PhD, Kara Bolon MS, Carolina Velasquez

Presented at: The Obesity Society, Oct. 29-Nov. 2, Washington DC., 2017

Nutrition Knowledge and Habits in Relation to Age in Minority Children

Authors: Arlette Perry, PhD, Emily Flanagan MS, Carolina Velasquez, Kara Bolon MS

Presented at: The Obesity Society, Oct. 29-Nov. 2, Washington DC., 2017

The Relationship Between Executive Cognitive Control and Measures of Physical Fitness and Health-Rleated Variables in Minority Elementary School Children

Authors: Mantilla, C., Perry, A., Quirola, L., Arwari, B.

Presented at: the 61st Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, June 2nd, 2014, Orlando, Florida

Results from a Pilot Translational Health and Wellness Based Summer Program

Authors: Edwards E.

Presented at: Open Access Dissertations. 557. Dr. Perry, Chair, 2011

Comparison Between a Comprehensive Wellness-Based After-School Program and a Traditional YMCA After-School Program on Measures of Physical Fitness, Health-Related, and Executive Cognitive Function Variables in Minority Elementary School Children

Authors: Mantilla C.

Presented at: Open Access Dissertations. 1356. Dr. Perry, Chair, 2015, Baltimore, Maryland

THINK STATS

years

How many years has the THINK been offered?

302

enrolled

How many students have been enrolled in the THINK program?

294

completed

How many students have completed all testing and assessments?

RESULTS

Significant physical changes as a result of the THINK program:

37.35%

Increased Muscular Strength

40.2%

Increased Aerobic Fitness

6.15%

Increased Agility/Speed

16.23%

Reduced Body Fat

THINK In The NEWS

Articles below are published on the "THINK Summer" programs, the "THINK After School" programs, and the "THINK In School" programs.

THINK Gallery

Elementary School

Middle School

THINK Testimonials

I can’t thank you enough for all you guys do for the campers. (Child) loves being part of the summer THINK camp. I’m sure he’ll be missing Joey after a week. Just like last year.
Dr. Perry, thank you for this amazing opportunity. The passion you have for the program, the kids and staff really shows. We really hope to be able to make it back next year.
The counselors have also been another highlight of this program. He comes home so happy. He always tells me how nice the counselors are, how helpful and he loves how they interact with the kids. I know this will be the last year for many and we wish them well. I told (Child) to take a picture with them but he's too shy to ask... lol.
I just wanted to give you all a big thank you. This has been an AMAZING summer experience for (Child). He absolutely loved every part of the program. He has a different outlook on nutrition. He is trying to eat even healthier and is so excited to continue doing Yoga at home. He feels more energetic. I can see his physique has changed and he seems stronger. He tells me that he wishes he can do this year-round.
I want to thank you and your entire team for your enthusiasm and professionalism. My daughter had such a positive experience. I believe she even discovered a few new interests and certainly gained a deeper awareness of what it means to be healthy and strong. As a parent, I really appreciate how the THINK camp addresses the needs of this particular age group, at such a critical time in their development. Programs like these are so needed and really do make a difference!
Thank you so much for everything you do. (Child) had an amazing time and loved the camp, she would love to return next year if possible. Please keep us informed :) It was an overall awesome experience, thank you so much for Everything!
Thank you very much for the information and I wanted to thank the entire summer camp team for their hard work and dedication to all the campers. My daughter has had a wonderful time and I think she now understands and appreciates the benefits of exercise and a healthy diet. The other day she was asking me to buy her fruits. This was an odd request coming from her.
Thank you for the amazing opportunity provided to my son through (the) UM THINK Camp. We have been waiting for a spot in this camp for so long and the opportunity you and your team provided is very much appreciated. (Child) has enjoyed every single day at the camp to the point he is sad it is about to finish. I hope we can join THINK Camp next summer and every activity you prepare, as it is majestically designed with an academic approach that explores life matter learning, self-care, nutrition all with fun components.