IHRSA Health Promotion Briefing

for IHRSA 2012 Convention Speakers - Los Angeles, California

Download the PDF version here.

The purpose of this information is to give IHRSA 2012 speakers a little more information about what IHRSA and the club industry are doing to promote good health. Here you will find helpful talking points to include in your presentation at IHRSA 2012, information on IHRSA’s Vision for a Healthier, More Prosperous World, information to gain a better understanding of IHRSA’s health promotion efforts and learn of new opportunities for involvement in the fitness industry.
      

The Fitness Industry’s Vision for a Healthier, More Prosperous World

Creating a New Paradigm
We are currently living in a world where the obesity rate has doubled since 1980, and chronic diseases—most of which are related to obesity—cause 60 percent of deaths globally.

Furthermore, poor health on such a massive scale is having a negative impact on economies around the world. A 10 percent rise in chronic diseases corresponds to a .5 percent reduction of annual economic growth, according to an economic analysis by the World Health Organization.

Last year, WHO issued a landmark report that outlined the dire need for a solution to these problems. “The cost of inaction is clear and unacceptable,” wrote the late Lee Jong-wook, then Director-General of the WHO, in the report. “Through investing in vigorous and well-targeted prevention and control now, there is a real opportunity to make significant progress and improve the lives of populations across the globe."

President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria has eloquently stated why government and community action is a necessary part of these preventative measures. “It is not enough to say, ‘we have told them not to smoke, we have told them to eat fruit and vegetables, we have told them to take regular exercise.’ We must create communities, schools, workplaces and markets that make these healthy choices possible.”

In order to solve this crisis, IHRSA members are committed to promoting primary prevention— regular exercise and healthy living—as a core principle of health care, which means putting a high priority on preventing poor health through healthy behaviors rather than treating them with prescription drugs, costly surgeries and treatments.

These efforts are organized under one single vision: The Vision for a Healthier, More Prosperous World.
This Vision for a healthier, more prosperous World is a unifying game plan to foster a culture of wellness from the ground up, by encouraging local health clubs to:

  1. Work toward making their clubs valuable community resources for disease prevention and healthy living; and
  2. Work together to advocate for health promotion legislation at the local, national and international levels.

This following is a summary of what IHRSA is doing to reach these goals, including health promotion programs to increase the value of health clubs as community wellness resources and our efforts to create laws and incentives that encourage people to be more physically active.

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Programming  

IHRSA offers a variety of programs and resources that health clubs can implement to encourage new membership and invigorate current membership.

Get Active America!®
Get Active America! is a health promotion campaign to help establish IHRSA clubs as the leading voice in their communities for healthy and active lifestyles. At a time when every community in America struggles with obesity and alarming rates of inactivity, Get Active America! presents a tremendous opportunity for clubs to distinguish themselves as a vital, prevention-based resource in their community.

Get Active America! clubs will agree to open their doors for one week:

  • May 7-10, 2012: Bring a Friend
  • May 11-13, 2012: Open House to the Public

During this time clubs will be expected to:

  • Educate the people in their community about how they can enhance their quality of life and prevent a long list of chronic diseases and conditions by beginning a regular exercise program.
  • Encourage members of their community to sign up for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Plus (PALA+) challenge and make a commitment to be active and make better food choices, in support of the Let’s Move! campaign, and the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Program. www.presidentschallenge.org

In addition to being highlighted on healthclubs.com, IHRSA's consumer website, participating clubs can expect to receive a variety of resources and tips to support their implementation of the program. Participation in Get Active America! is complimentary and is available exclusively to IHRSA members as a valuable benefit of membership. For more information, visit www.ihrsa.org/getactiveamerica.

Joining Forces
The IHRSA Joining Forces Network is a special opportunity for thousands of clubs that make up the industry to unite under one common cause. It is a cause that gives clubs the opportunity to thank military families by doing what they do best - providing health, fitness and stress relief benefits to the people that need them most

Participating clubs provide a limited number of free 6-month memberships to spouses or immediate family members of Reservists and National Guard members during the time of their deployment. Clubs control the number of memberships they gift. Participating members are listed on www.healthclubs.com, a popular health club locator website for consumers, under the Joining Forces Network. Clubs also receive free promotional and marketing materials to help promote the program in their communities. For more information and a list of FAQs, visit www.ihrsa.org/joining-forces-network.

I Lost It at the Club!®
I Lost It at the Club! is an 8-week retention-based weight loss program that is free for IHRSA members. The annual program begins in January to help members with their New Year’s weight loss and exercise goals. From a health perspective, I Lost it at the Club! allows the industry to promote its efforts to increase regular exercise and demonstrate that people who lose weight in health clubs are more successful in both losing weight and keeping it off. For more information, visit www.ihrsa.org/ilostitattheclub.

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Resources

Health E-Review

Health E-Review is a bi-weekly electronic newsletter complimentary to all IHRSA members. Members who subscribe receive a compilation of the latest research focusing on the health benefits of regular exercise. The research is summarized, referenced, and easy to understand, enabling subscribers to easily forward it along to colleagues, staff and members. In addition to research summaries, also included are posters to hang on club bulletin boards and a newsletter to send to club members. For more information, visit www.ihrsa.org/health-promotion.

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Advocacy     

IHRSA actively supports both federal and state legislation that encourages people to become healthier and lowers health care costs.

Legislation for Children and Families

1. The Personal Health Investment Today Act (PHIT) - PHIT would make fitness equipment, gym memberships and youth sports leagues fees payable with pre-tax dollars from pre-tax health savings accounts, such as FSAs.

2. Physical Education for Progress Act (PEP) - This grant program is at risk of funding cutbacks. IHRSA lobbies to maintain current funding levels and ensure quality P.E. for all school children.

3. Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (FIT Kids) - FIT Kids would improve standards for physical education in schools through reporting, requiring more activity throughout the day and increased commitment to the professional development of physical education teachers.

Legislation for Employee Health

The Workforce Health Improvement Plan Act (WHIP) - WHIP would ensure that employer-provided gym membership subsidies for off-site fitness facilities are not taxed as additional income for employees (currently, if an employee utilizes their wellness benefit in a off- site facility, it is taxed as additional income).

Legislation for Public Health

U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines Review - IHRSA supports a regularly scheduled review of the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines, at least every 5 years.

State Advocacy    

IHRSA advocates on behalf of the industry in all 50 states, supporting legislation that would create tax incentives for engaging in exercise and healthy living, insurance discounts, greater employee wellness benefits and improved standards for physical education. IHRSA retains a lobbyist in California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. For state specific information, visit www.ihrsa.org/state. Also contact IHRSA Government Relations at gr@ihrsa.org.

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Creating a Culture of Physical Activity

IHRSA is engaged in numerous additional efforts to promote primary prevention and exercise as core values of a health care system in every state, nation and community across the globe.

U.S. National Physical Activity Plan
IHRSA is co-chair of the Business and Industry Sector for the National Physical Activity Plan, proudly serving as the voice of the health club industry in crafting national programs that aim to increase exercise. Most recently IHRSA helped launch the CEO Pledge, which gives companies the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to physical activity in the workplace by acknowledging that senior management support is the cornerstone to a successful employee wellness program. For more information, visit www.ncppa.org.

The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition
The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) is a committee of up to 25 volunteer citizens who advise the President through the Secretary of Health and Human Services about opportunities to develop accessible, affordable and sustainable physical activity, fitness, sports and nutrition programs for all Americans regardless of age, background or ability. IHRSA is an official President’s Challenge Advocate, and support the PALA+ program. For more information, visit www.fitness.gov.

Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD
IHRSA serves as an advisor on healthcare and wellness issues on the Business and Industry Advisory committee to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD is a forum of countries working together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems. Members compare policy experiences, identify good practices and coordinate domestic and international policies of its members.
For more information, visit www.oecd.org.

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Helpful Data     

The following are compelling data points that illustrate the need for social and political change, and for more attention to be paid to primary prevention and wellness solutions.

The Problem

  • Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. (WHO)
  • In 2008, 1.5 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. (WHO)
  • 65% of the world's population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. (WHO)
  • Worldwide, nearly 43 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2010. (WHO)
  • In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that the costs associated with physical inactivity are $76.6 billion per year. (CDC, 2000)
  • More than half of American adults are either insufficiently active or inactive. (CDC, 2007)

The Solution

  • It is estimated that a 10% reduction in physical inactivity could reduce health care costs by $124 billion per year (US). (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • An annual investment of $10 per person in programs that increase physical activity, improve nutrition or break smoking habits can provide a return of $5.60 for every dollar invested within five years. (Economic Benefits of Exercise, IHRSA, 2009)
  • Vigorous physical activity reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 23-46%. (The Healing Powers of Exercise, IHRSA, 2008)
  • Incidence of coronary heart disease is 150% lower among women who exercise regularly as compared with women who don’t. (The Healing Powers of Exercise, IHRSA, 2008)

 

 

Interested in getting involved in IHRSA health promotion? Contact IHRSA at gr@ihrsa.org.