Fitness Centers: Catering to Needs for Better Health
By Robert Cole, The Kansas City Star, Mo.
Jan. 22–From 50 to 80 members wait every morning for the doors to open at the North Kansas City Community Center on North Iron Street.
Once inside they swim laps, lift weights or play quick games of pickup basketball. Then it’s a quick shower before they are out the door and driving to work.
“We have our facility ready to go at 5:29 a.m., because we have people coming in,” said Greg Hansen, center director. “They want to be at their job by 7.”
The morning ritual is a familiar scene at gyms, fitness centers and indoor recreation centers throughout greater Kansas City.
Fitness managers have touted the benefits of regular exercise for years, but the idea of working out only to look good has faded at most health clubs.
Wellness, living healthier and feeling better are now priorities for a greater cross-section of society. Health — simply being a healthy person — is a trend, Hansen said.
Many health club members feel comfortable participating in strenuous, heart-pounding group workouts, including Zumba classes, tai chi and cardio kickboxing. An increasing number want personal-training advice on health issues, including how to lower their cholesterol, build endurance for upcoming ski trips or exercise when they have had knee-replacement surgery.
More adults and young people are interested in personal training since the problem of childhood obesity became more widely known, said David Dean, superintendent of recreation services for Lee’s Summit’s Parks and Recreation.
The city’s Legacy Park Community Center recently bought nutrition software for members who want guidance on personalized eating programs, Dean said.
The center plans to add fitness gear designed for the body types of preteens and an older, smaller-size population.
“It’s basically adult equipment but trimmed down,” Dean said. “It’s a trend that will help us build a family environment for our facility.”
The YMCA of the USA has announced Activate America: Pioneering Healthier Communities, a plan to reverse the course of obesity and physical inactivity. Nearly one-third of Americans are obese, and another third are overweight, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The local rollout will include retraining staff members to better address the health concerns of YMCA members, said Gretchen Deaton, vice president of marketing and communications at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. The initiative also includes working with civic groups in scores of cities to fight obesity and sedentary behaviors.
Hansen said the North Kansas City center maintained a steady base of about 4,000 members throughout the year, many of whom come to take advantage of their employers’ benefits plans or wellness programs.
Managers have to be very sensitive to the individual needs of the people coming in to improve their quality of life, Hansen said. For some it may be their first time to ever lift a weight.
“It can be so big for them to come in and say they’d like to start working out,” Hansen said. “They’re just happy to get here and get going.”
To reach Robert Cole, call 816-234-4296 or send e-mail to rcole@kcstar.com.
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