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Health Clubs Kick Off National 'Get Active America!' Effort to Rebuild America's Health

Posted on: Tuesday, 2 May 2006, 06:00 CDT

BOSTON, May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced today that health clubs nationwide are opening their doors for free in May and offering health-focused programs as part of Get Active America! -- a fitness industry initiative to combat chronic lifestyle diseases and make it easier for Americans to exercise. Get Active America! 2006 marks the third year the fitness industry has offered this nationwide, community-based program.

"The sedentary culture that has emerged in this country in the last 30 years has had a devastating impact on our nation's health," said John McCarthy, Executive Director, IHRSA. "We must find ways -- as a nation -- to address the obesity and health crisis we face today so the legacy we leave for our children is not one of chronic disease and poor quality of life. Get Active America! is just one initiative the fitness industry is taking to help break down the barriers to physical activity and help Americans build exercise into their daily lives."

During the month of May, health clubs across the country will be out in their communities offering programs to help all Americans find practical ways to make physical activity and healthy nutrition a routine part of their everyday, busy lives.

Important Dates

From May 15 through May 18 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 the exercise habit.

From May 19 through May 21, 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.

Get Active America! is sponsored this year by Merck & Company, Inc. (Merck). Merck will be sending clubs important informational brochures so they can educate their members and guests about the link between cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus (HPV). Fitness industry sponsors include American Specialty Health, CheckFree, Cybex, Life Fitness, Nautilus, Philips, Precor, Star Trac, and Zone Cafe.

Augie's Quest -- a cure-driven program within the ALS division of the Muscular Dystrophy Association that supports fast-track research to cure Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis -- or Lou Gehrig's Disease -- is the official charity for Get Active America! 2006. Participating clubs will help raise awareness of this fatal disease for which there is no known cause, cure or treatment.

Other IHRSA Health Improvement Initiatives

IHRSA clubs not only will open their doors for free in May, but IHRSA members will meet with Members of Congress to urge them to create additional financial incentives to promote exercise. As a leading member of the Workplace Fitness Coalition -- a diverse group of 23 organizations that recognize the importance of physical activity -- IHRSA supports the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act (H.R.1634, S.772). Introduced in the House and Senate last year, 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 fitness center 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.

In addition, I Lost It at the Club!, a fitness industry weight loss initiative coordinated by IHRSA and sponsored by equipment manufacturer Life Fitness and Hershey's PayDay PRO(TM) Energy Bar, helped more than 11,000 participating health club members lose almost 20 tons (39,300 pounds) of excess weight in the battle against disease. More than 800 IHRSA member health clubs participated in the eight-week program, which began on January 9, 2006. The initiative was established in 2005 to engage current and future club members in a fun, collaborative effort to lose weight, while helping them focus on living longer, healthier, more productive lives.

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.

The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association

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

Web site: http://www.getactiveamerica.com/http://www.ihrsa.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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