Health Clubs Kick Off `Get Active America!' Month, Stepping Up National Effort to Reshape the Way America Lives and Moves

Health Clubs Kick Off `Get Active America!' Month, Stepping Up National Effort to Reshape the Way America Lives and Moves

Hundreds of Clubs Nationwide Offer Free Access, Encouraging Newcomers to Exercise

BOSTON, May 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced today the start of its 4th Annual Get Active America! campaign encouraging exercise to help preserve good health. This year's initiative is sponsored by IdeaCast and AllWhites(R).

More than 1,000 health clubs across the country will open their doors free for several days in May as part of this community-based effort to help people reshape their daily routines so exercise becomes an integral part of their everyday lives. It's all part of the industry's effort to stop the tide of inactivity that is damaging the health of so many Americans - young and old.

"Our lives have changed dramatically over the last 20 years," said Joe Moore, President and Chief Executive Officer, IHRSA. "Sedentary activities now dominate our daily lives, and our health has suffered as a result. Today's baby boomers, in fact, may be the first generation entering their retirement years feeling the effects of long-term physical inactivity.

"We're a society at a critical junction," Moore continued. "If we don't take action now to reshape the way we live and move, we may be building a future of reduced health and quality of life for generations to come."

Through its Get Active America! initiative, the health and fitness industry hopes to help as many Americans as possible introduce regular physical activity into their daily routines. This year's effort will focus on beginners - people who are generally inactive - so they feel supported and unafraid in taking those initial steps to improve their health and lives through exercise. Many clubs will be reaching out to local businesses, urging employers to help their workers become more physically active and live healthier lives. And many clubs will be creating programs to benefit families with a broad spectrum of exercise needs.

While data from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that more than 50 percent of American adults don't get enough physical activity to provide health benefits, most Americans seem to understand the importance of exercise. In fact, in a recent study conducted by IHRSA, an overwhelming majority of Americans - 90 percent - said that exercise contributes to a healthy lifestyle; 74 percent believe it helps prevent chronic diseases; and 67 percent say exercise is an important part of their emotional well-being.(1)

"The message that exercise is important to our complete health is being heard," said Moore. "Where we're falling short as a society is in enabling people to actually incorporate exercise into their daily lives.

"Yes, exercise is a personal choice and responsibility, but with the time- driven and sedentary culture that surrounds us, people need a great deal of support if they are to create enduring lifestyles that allow them the time and safe, supportive environments in which to exercise."

As part of this year's Get Active America! program, participating health clubs will be teaming up with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office on Women's Health (OWH) to promote The WOMAN Challenge - an eight-week physical fitness challenge that encourages women to get 10,000 steps or 30 minutes of exercise each day, as part of National Women's Health Week 2007. People participating will be able to track their steps online.

Important Dates

On May 13 - Mother's Day and the start of National Women's Health Week - health clubs participating in Get Active America! will help kick off The WOMAN Challenge. (See http://womenshealth.gov/woman/ for more information.)

From May 14 through 17, participating health clubs will host "Bring a Friend" days. Current club members can bring in their friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers, free of charge, to help them begin to build exercise into their daily routines.

From May 18 through 20, participating health clubs will host an "Open House." Clubs will open their doors to their communities, free of charge, to educate Americans about the health benefits that regular exercise brings.

During "Bring a Friend" and "Open House" days, guests can take exercise classes, use the equipment, and have access to professional trainers free of charge. See http://www.getactiveamerica.com/ for a listing of participating health clubs.

About Get Active America! 2007 Sponsors

Get Active America! is sponsored this year by IdeaCast and AllWhites(R). As part of its sponsorship, IdeaCast, which provides free satellite programming exclusively to IHRSA member health clubs, will promote the campaign through its in-club media network. AllWhites, 100% liquid egg whites, will be distributing to Get Active America! participants 1.2 million recipe booklets and coupons.

"IdeaCast is excited to support this important - and timely - health initiative," said Fred Smith, Founder and CEO of IdeaCast. "Through our network, we can reach a wide audience with news about Get Active America! and help ensure that as many Americans as possible benefit from this year's program."

"We believe that good health begins and ends with a balanced diet and regular exercise," said Melanie Tauring, Associate Marketing Manager at Michael Foods. "AllWhites is 100% liquid egg whites and a perfect source of protein. We are committed to providing Americans with nutritious and delicious food choices, and are thrilled to be able to combine our product with an event that encourages physical activity."

Other IHRSA Health Initiatives

IHRSA supports health promotion legislation to help encourage more active lifestyles, such as the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act (H.R.1748, S.1038). This federal legislation seeks to combat chronic disease and obesity caused by inactivity by allowing for the balanced tax treatment of fitness center memberships as an employee benefit. Specifically, it reaffirms an employer's right to deduct the cost of subsidizing or providing off-site health club benefits to their workers. And it excludes the wellness benefit from being considered additional taxable income for employees. Current law allows employees to use on-site fitness facilities free of any tax implications. But when a business needs to outsource this health benefit, employees who receive off-site fitness center subsidies are required to pay income tax on the benefits. And their employers bear the associated administrative costs of complying with IRS rules. The WHIP Act eliminates this tax on off-site fitness center subsidies, making it easier for all employers to offer important exercise incentives for their workers.

IHRSA also supports the recently introduced Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Bill (H.R.245), which takes a giant step toward a healthier America. This legislation will allow for exercise and physical fitness programs and certain exercise equipment to be paid for out of pre-tax dollars by including them in tax deferred medical savings vehicles - such as flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA). IHRSA believes that PHIT will help provide the level of support many Americans need to be able to adopt healthier lifestyles and become more physically active.

About IHRSA

IHRSA is a not-for-profit trade association representing health and fitness facilities, gyms, spas, sports clubs, and suppliers worldwide. IHRSA is committed to taking a leadership role in advancing physical activity, which is critical to America's health and the battle against obesity and disease. IHRSA supports effective national initiatives to promote more active lifestyles for all Americans and is working to pass laws that will help affect societal changes toward a more fit America.

For more information, visit http://www.getactiveamerica.com/ or http://www.ihrsa.org/.

For a listing of health clubs with programs for seniors, families, and people with special health concerns, contact IHRSA at healthprograms@ihrsa.org.

(1) Fitness American Style III

Source: International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association

CONTACT: Brooke Correia, IHRSA, +1-617-951-0055, ext. 149 (office) or
+1-617-823-1311 (cell), bc@ihrsa.org

Web site:

http://www.ihrsa.org/
http://womenshealth.gov/woman
http://www.getactiveamerica.com/

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