Health Science Academy students use FitBits for class

Partnership with Mayo provides fitness trackers for students to use in health data analysis

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — A new partnership is helping a group of area high school students keep a closer eye on their fitness.

Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse is teaming up with the Health Science Academy to provide students in the program with FitBit fitness trackers.

Students will use the FitBits during the school year to help them monitor their exercise, as well as their number of steps, amount of calories they’re eating and how much sleep they’re getting.

The students will then use that data as part of their classes in the academy.

“To me it’s more health to figure out what you’re taking in your body, but it’s also science because you can figure out how much you need to work out to lose calories instead of just intaking and putting more calories into your body,” said Health Science Academy student Taylor Hernandez.

The program also features monthly “challenges” to motivate the students to stay active. This month, groups of students are competing to see who can complete enough steps to get to the north pole first.