Witte’s H-E-B Body Adventure Helps Profile Public Health

“This area of the museum is so needed in our community.”

By Wendy RigbyNovember 8, 2016 9:36 am, , , ,

From Texas Public Radio

The Witte bills itself as the People’s Museum. With more than 350,000 visitors a year, people are certainly visiting. Those who visit the four-story H-E-B Body Adventure exhibit, though, are part of something bigger than they know.

“What better place to address community public health than a place in the community that has a lot of social capital that’s been in the community for 90 years,” asked Bryan Bayles, Ph.D., MPH, Curator of Anthropology and Health.

Bayles said H-E-B Body Adventure, launched in 2014, has been a treasure trove of data about San Antonio’s public health. The visitors to the four-story interactive experiential exhibit take part in various physical challenges, like one called Pull Your Own Weight.

“It’s tough,” said 7-year-old Marie  Martinez. “And it’s super fun.”

Visitors are issued a Power Pass they plug-in to different stations. As they make their way through the building, their card records a profile of their height, weight, zip code, answers to questions about habits and renders a snapshot of the community.

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