Americans Claim They Value Physical Health and Fitness, but They're Still Not Exercising.

Lifestyle Editors/Health/Medical Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 2003

New Survey Commissioned By IHRSA Finds Americans Say One Thing and

Do Another - or Not Do in This Case

Americans' support of physical health and fitness has increased in the past two years, but people aren't acting on their values. According to a recent survey commissioned by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), half of the people polled claim to value physical fitness more than they did two years ago, and nine out of ten believe that regular exercise is essential to weigh management. However, 61 percent of U.S. adults, or nearly 108 million people, are either overweight or obese(1) and the numbers continue to rise. Are Americans foolish, or just lazy?

The answer is neither. The survey, conducted by American Sports Data, Inc., showed that people have become desensitized to the obesity epidemic. While they claim to understand that being overweight or obese is not healthy, an alarming number of respondents (65%) stated, "Everyone can't be thin, some people are just overweight." This response represents a frightening notion - that many Americans are either becoming complacent with their lack of physical health or they aren't correlating a lack of fitness with obesity and its adverse health conditions.

"It's shocking that obesity causes 300,000 deaths per year in the United States, but because there are so many overweight Americans, people have come to consider that condition as normal or acceptable," stated John McCarthy, Executive Director of IHRSA. "We need to show people that through exercise and a healthy diet, they can maintain good physical health, lower stress levels and avoid medical problems that are commonly associated with obesity, such as high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease."

Weight Loss Strategies

In the past year, 104 million Americans attempted to lose weight. The most popular weight loss strategies were outdoor exercise (48 million) and home exercise (47 million). Only a small fraction (17%) of those people considered themselves successful in achieving their weight loss goals. However, those who exercised at health clubs to lose weight (21 million) experienced a higher success rate (30%). What's the reason for this difference?

"Working out at a health club provided several things I just couldn't achieve on my own," stated Mark Davis, a personal trainer at The San Francisco Bay Club, who lost over 150 pounds after joining a club. "My club provided moral support, motivation and sage advice in a unique community setting that helped me achieve my fitness goals. I was able to build on what I learned at the club to maintain my healthy lifestyle for several years now."

But, for many the excuses for not exercising and establishing/maintaining physical fitness keep rolling in. Sixty one percent said "I would prefer to exercise where no one could see me," while several others said, "I would exercise more if I weighed less," (38%), indicating embarrassment or skepticism in implementing a fitness regimen.

"One of the benefits of health clubs is certainly weight management, but today's health clubs offer something more - a holistic approach to healthy lifestyles," explained McCarthy. "They are changing and expanding their services to cater to the special needs and requests of members, including women only clubs, wellness and nutrition instruction and yoga and Pilates classes."

Fighting Obesity

But how can a health club battle the rise in obesity? IHRSA has committed itself and the industry to actively seek solutions for the obesity epidemic. Working in conjunction with other health organizations and the government, IHRSA will push to introduce education, tax and health reforms, and identify new ways to encourage people to take an active role in protecting their own health.

IHRSA has already begun acting on this resolution, by organizing a citywide health club open house in San Francisco. In celebration of "Get Fit San Francisco Day," IHRSA member clubs in San Francisco are inviting the public to tour and workout in their clubs free of charge on Saturday, March 1, 2003. Plans are already underway to organize a similar event in Washington, D.C. this May, when IHRSA will be meeting with elected officials to discuss obesity and preventative solutions.

The organization is introducing initiatives that reward Americans for pursuing a healthy lifestyle, such as federal tax deductions for healthy lifestyle expenses, which 64 percent of survey respondents supported.

For More Information

To receive a copy of the research results, please send an email request to [e-mail]. To locate a health or fitness club, please visit www.healthclubs.com.

About IHRSA

The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) is a nonprofit association dedicated to the growth, protection and promotion of the health club industry, and represents nearly 6,000 clubs worldwide. IHRSA is an international leader in health club industry educations, research and advocacy. IHRSA will celebrate its 22nd anniversary with the annual international convention and tradeshow, held February 27 - March 1, 2003, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif. For more information on the tradeshow, visit www.ihrsa.org/meetings/convention.

(1) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General's call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General; December 2001.