| IHRSA Report | In Brief
IHRSA Gains National Ally in Fight Against Childhood Obesity
NEED ART
that it’s become virtually impossible for any American to deny having some potential role in the effort to create a healthier, happier, and more active future for America’s youth.
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So, what is the role for health clubs? “Health clubs have a vital role to play in the fight against obesity,” notes Joe Moore,
IHRSA’s president and CEO. “Historically, health clubs have been successfully engaging children in regular physical activity by drawing upon state-of-the-art technologies and behavior research to implement innovative programs within local communities.” Already, more than 22% of commercial health clubs offer children-specific
programming and nearly 20% offer a kids-only section within their facilities. Together, health clubs serve more than 4.8 million members under the age of 18—including 1.13 million between the ages of 6 and 12 years old, and 3.11 million between 13 and 17. What’s more, 33% of fitness-professionals now teach kids’ classes, and 55% offer
one-on-one personal training to youngsters 18 or younger. The number of children making use of health clubs has increased by 108% since 1990, and the number of first-time health club members under the age of 18 has doubled in 10 years. It’s important to note, however, that fighting childhood obesity isn’t just about
children’s programming; it’s also about engaging parents as role models. “Adults who engage in a fitness program set a positive example for
youth, increasing the likelihood that young people will choose to lead active, healthy lives,” says Moore. “In doing so, they serve as viable community resources for family wellness,” he adds. To showcase the essential role of health clubs, IHRSA has redesigned
its flagship health-promotion campaign, Get Active America!, to align with the Let’s Move! initiative championed by First Lady Michelle Obama. Beginning May 2, 2011, Get Active America! clubs will help their neighbors—members and nonmembers—be active for five days per week, for at least six out of eight weeks. At the conclusion of the program, IHRSA will report the great successes of IHRSA clubs to the Let’s Move! team. In addition to federal endeavors, IHRSA is also supporting state efforts
to provide opportunities for children to become more physically active. In Maryland, two initiatives are currently before the legislature. The
first is a proposal to fund organizations that provide physical activity options after school and during summer vacation for children in grades K-8. The second, championed by The Coalition for a Healthy Maryland (
www.cfahm.org), would create tax deductions for health club member- ships and physical fitness programs for kids. In Texas, Senate Bill 224 would establish the “Healthy Schools
Recognition Program,” in which the state would partner with private and nonprofit entities to provide monetary and other rewards to schools
that show improved results in physical fitness assessments and comply with state physical activity requirements. So, as a club operator, what can you do to help? You can register your club
to participate in Get Active America! and establish your business as a leading resource for youth fitness in your community. You will gain members and a positive reputation. —|
.org 92 Club Business Internat ional | MAY 2011 |
To learn more about IHRSA’s federal initiatives to promote more active youth, log on to
www.ihrsa.org/ federal, or contact IHRSA's Government Relations team at
gr@ihrsa.org or 800-228-4772.
www.
ihrsa.org
he fight against childhood obesity has attracted a diverse pool of supporters and advocates. Allies have emerged from all over the country, from nearly every imaginable constituency, including: industry leaders, medical practitioners, chefs, schools, parents, community leaders, and beyond. The range of champions has become so inclusive, in fact,
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