First lady Michelle Obama, flanked by three cabinet members, released the 124-page report from the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity yesterday. The report made 70 recommendations with the goal of reducing the current childhood obesity rate of about 20 percent back down to 5 percent by 2030.
"For the first time -- this is the key -- we're setting really clear goals and benchmarks and measurable outcomes that will help tackle this challenge one step, one family and one child at a time," Mrs. Obama said.
The plan focuses on five key areas determined by the task force, they include: prenatal care, empowering parents with nutritional information and community support, getting healthier foods into schools, increasing access to healthy foods in neglected urban and rural neighborhoods, and making sure that all kids are physically active.
IHRSA had submitted comments to the Task Force regarding the fitness industry’s potential role in increasing physical activity among the nation’s youth. The comments urged policymakers to seek partnerships with health clubs to expand opportunities for physical activity. IHRSA’s comments are reflected in at least two of the recommendations:
Recommendation 5.15: Local governments should be encouraged to enter into joint use agreements to increase children’s access to community sites for indoor and outdoor recreation.
Recommendation 5.16: The business sector should be encouraged to consider which resources and physical assets like fields and gyms can be used to increase students’ access to outdoor and indoor recreational venues. Corporations, for example, may have large grounds that they can make available for children in the community to play soccer or engage in other outdoor activities.
More details about the report, including recommendations related to physical activity can be found at LetsMove.gov.
Download the section on physical activity (PDF 927 KB).
View a summary of IHRSA’s recommendations to the Task Force.
- Bre McGahey
Showing posts with label childhood obesity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label childhood obesity. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
IHRSA Heartily Applauds First Lady’s Let’s Move Initiative and Vows Support
IHRSA on Friday, pledged its support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative and praised the First Lady for her leadership in tackling the problem of childhood obesity—a long-standing issue that threatens both the health of America’s children and the future of our country.
“On behalf of the entire health club industry, IHRSA heartily commends Mrs. Obama for standing up and leading America in a nationwide effort to solve the problem of childhood obesity,” said Joe Moore, IHRSA’s president and CEO. “As a devoted mother of two school-aged children, Mrs. Obama understands that the problem of childhood obesity isn’t about statistics. It’s about real children and real families in need of workable solutions. It’s about real parents struggling to protect the health of their children in a culture and environment that often work against them. Mrs. Obama’s pragmatic, compassionate, and hands-on approach to solving the problem will serve as an inspiring example on which all of us can model our efforts.”
The health and fitness industry believes strongly that regular exercise is a pivotal antidote to the obesity problem. For almost 30 years, the industry has been working to increase physical activity in America, while IHRSA has been speaking out and working tirelessly on the need to incorporate exercise into the health care continuum as part of preventive care.
In a letter to Mrs. Obama, Moore stated: “The health club industry is an important and effective resource for introducing young people to a lifetime of exercise, fitness, and healthy behaviors. We want to make sure that this far-reaching network of community-based fitness centers and professionals is at your disposal in the nation’s fight against childhood obesity and that it is not overlooked…
By educating our youth about exercise and nutrition, by showing them how much fun physical activity can be, by instilling healthy lifestyle habits at an early age, and by maximizing the innovative programming, technologies, and available research within the fitness industry—health clubs can make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of children.”
Health clubs play a vital role in keeping Americans of all ages healthy. With more than 30,000 across the country, they can be found in all 50 states, serving cities and towns in both rural and urban areas. Health clubs of all sizes and business models—including thousands of small and medium sized enterprises—are integral to community life. Together, they provide a gateway to healthy living for millions of Americans of all ages and backgrounds.
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. Today, more than 22 percent of commercial health clubs offer children-specific programming. Almost 20 percent offer a kids-only section of the club. And together, health clubs serve more than 4.8 million members under the age of 18—including 1.13 million between 6 and 12 years old, and 3.11 million between 13 and 17.
What’s more, 33 percent of fitness professionals now teach kids’ classes, and 55 percent offer one-on-one personal training to youth aged 18 or younger. And the number of children using health clubs has increased by 108 percent since 1990. The number of first time health club members under the age of 18 has doubled in ten years.
Each year at IHRSA’s annual convention, health club owners and leaders in the health and fitness industry have the opportunity to see the latest in innovative technologies and exercise equipment designed specifically for youth—and to share ideas on how to best support the efforts of families and children who want to exercise regularly and live healthier lives. This year’s convention will take place in San Diego from March 10 through 13.
“Mrs. Obama has a tremendous and tremendously important task before her,” said Moore. “And she will need cooperation and help from all industries and from both the private and public sectors.”
According to research commissioned by IHRSA, 99 percent of Americans believe that exercise helps preserve good health, but most feel they have to battle current culture to exercise regularly and that the government should do more to promote physical activity. Americans agree at a high rate (79%) that “The current culture in America, including the pressures of work, family and financial demands, makes it hard for people to exercise regularly and maintain healthy lifestyles.” More than three-fifths of Americans (61%) believe the government should do more to promote physical activity.
At the time these survey findings were released in 2007, Moore commented: “[Americans] are losing the struggle to balance the demands of work and family with personal health and need greater support. Americans need access to the tools necessary to live healthier lifestyles.”
“We are extremely grateful that Mrs. Obama has taken on the issue of childhood obesity,” Moore said today. “We want to see her succeed in this initiative and in leading the way to create a national environment that supports health. We encourage all Americans to stand behind Mrs. Obama in her efforts to stop the tide of childhood obesity and to do what they can to help ensure healthy futures for our children and for our country.”
“On behalf of the entire health club industry, IHRSA heartily commends Mrs. Obama for standing up and leading America in a nationwide effort to solve the problem of childhood obesity,” said Joe Moore, IHRSA’s president and CEO. “As a devoted mother of two school-aged children, Mrs. Obama understands that the problem of childhood obesity isn’t about statistics. It’s about real children and real families in need of workable solutions. It’s about real parents struggling to protect the health of their children in a culture and environment that often work against them. Mrs. Obama’s pragmatic, compassionate, and hands-on approach to solving the problem will serve as an inspiring example on which all of us can model our efforts.”
The health and fitness industry believes strongly that regular exercise is a pivotal antidote to the obesity problem. For almost 30 years, the industry has been working to increase physical activity in America, while IHRSA has been speaking out and working tirelessly on the need to incorporate exercise into the health care continuum as part of preventive care.
In a letter to Mrs. Obama, Moore stated: “The health club industry is an important and effective resource for introducing young people to a lifetime of exercise, fitness, and healthy behaviors. We want to make sure that this far-reaching network of community-based fitness centers and professionals is at your disposal in the nation’s fight against childhood obesity and that it is not overlooked…
By educating our youth about exercise and nutrition, by showing them how much fun physical activity can be, by instilling healthy lifestyle habits at an early age, and by maximizing the innovative programming, technologies, and available research within the fitness industry—health clubs can make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of children.”
Health clubs play a vital role in keeping Americans of all ages healthy. With more than 30,000 across the country, they can be found in all 50 states, serving cities and towns in both rural and urban areas. Health clubs of all sizes and business models—including thousands of small and medium sized enterprises—are integral to community life. Together, they provide a gateway to healthy living for millions of Americans of all ages and backgrounds.
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. Today, more than 22 percent of commercial health clubs offer children-specific programming. Almost 20 percent offer a kids-only section of the club. And together, health clubs serve more than 4.8 million members under the age of 18—including 1.13 million between 6 and 12 years old, and 3.11 million between 13 and 17.
What’s more, 33 percent of fitness professionals now teach kids’ classes, and 55 percent offer one-on-one personal training to youth aged 18 or younger. And the number of children using health clubs has increased by 108 percent since 1990. The number of first time health club members under the age of 18 has doubled in ten years.
Each year at IHRSA’s annual convention, health club owners and leaders in the health and fitness industry have the opportunity to see the latest in innovative technologies and exercise equipment designed specifically for youth—and to share ideas on how to best support the efforts of families and children who want to exercise regularly and live healthier lives. This year’s convention will take place in San Diego from March 10 through 13.
“Mrs. Obama has a tremendous and tremendously important task before her,” said Moore. “And she will need cooperation and help from all industries and from both the private and public sectors.”
According to research commissioned by IHRSA, 99 percent of Americans believe that exercise helps preserve good health, but most feel they have to battle current culture to exercise regularly and that the government should do more to promote physical activity. Americans agree at a high rate (79%) that “The current culture in America, including the pressures of work, family and financial demands, makes it hard for people to exercise regularly and maintain healthy lifestyles.” More than three-fifths of Americans (61%) believe the government should do more to promote physical activity.
At the time these survey findings were released in 2007, Moore commented: “[Americans] are losing the struggle to balance the demands of work and family with personal health and need greater support. Americans need access to the tools necessary to live healthier lifestyles.”
“We are extremely grateful that Mrs. Obama has taken on the issue of childhood obesity,” Moore said today. “We want to see her succeed in this initiative and in leading the way to create a national environment that supports health. We encourage all Americans to stand behind Mrs. Obama in her efforts to stop the tide of childhood obesity and to do what they can to help ensure healthy futures for our children and for our country.”
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Teen Fitness Connection - Empower a Teen This Summer
As the nation waits this summer for long-anticipated health care reform and for prevention to play a critical role, you may be asking what more you can do to have your voice heard and how to play a part in keeping Americans healthy this summer. You should, of course, write or call your Congressional representative and ask for their support of Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act and the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act. If you submitted a video for IHRSA’s Campaign for a Healthier America, we thank you and encourge you to invite your staff to do the same. If you are looking for a program to make a difference in a young person’s life this summer, I would ask you to consider running the Teen Fitness Connection (TFC) in your club.
The TFC is a nationwide initiative designed to introduce exercise to teens by offering free summer matinee memberships. Now in its second year as an IHRSA program, it is designed as a community outreach initiative that invites club owners and operators to fight teen obesity and physical inactivity on a local level. Geoff Dyer, Founder of Lifestyle Family Fitness health clubs and the TFC, began the program three years ago with the intent to provide an outlet for teenagers to raise their self-esteem, get in control of their physical health, and to fight teenage obesity.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle begins at an early age, and needs to be reinforced in order to become habit. The TFC gives teens a fun activity to engage in during the summer months and to explore the offerings and support health clubs give. Clubs can modify and adjust the program as they see fit.
The program takes place at IHRSA clubs across the country from July 1 - August 31, 2009. Please visit http://www.ihrsa.org/teenfitnessconnection for more information and enrollment.
I urge you to consider implementing this program in your club and join in empowering teens with fitness this summer!
- Rosemary Lavery
Monday, June 1, 2009
Legislating a Healthier Future for Our Children
The following is an excerpt from the June 2009 issue of Club Business International, IHRSA's monthly magazine reaching almost 25,000 fitness professionals around the world.
The children of America are on the verge of a health crisis—and, ultimately, so, too, is the nation’s healthcare system. About one in three children and youth are already overweight or obese. In fact, today’s kids could be the first generation of Americans to live shorter lives than their parents.
Across the spectrum, it’s widely agreed that a lack of physical activity and poor nutrition are two of the leading culprits. According to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation, 92% of elementary schools do not offer daily physical education classes year-round, and only about 20% of high school students report eating fruits and green vegetables five or more times a day.
Fortunately, there’s a growing awareness of the issue. Congress, many state legislators, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Surgeon General, and political leaders are actively working to improve the health of America’s kids.
So far this year, 26 states have introduced physical education (PE) legislation. Many of the bills seek to impose specific requirements on PE programs’ weekly duration, standards, and implementation requirements, or create an assessment mechanism. In Illinois, House Bill 2291 proposes requiring each school board to have an annual assessment on the physical fitness levels of all students in grades five, seven, and nine. The results would be available in report cards, along with the average number of minutes of exercise PE students receive per week at each grade level.
Legislators in Mississippi are taking a different approach. They’re currently considering House Bill 791, which would require that children’s Body Mass Index (BMI) be measured starting in kindergarten and then every other year through tenth grade. The results, including percentile and an explanation, would be provided to parents. Montana is also considering a similar bill.
During these tough economic times, three states are currently weighing the merits of tax credits to encourage physical activity among youth. In Illinois and Maryland, families could be eligible for $500 tax credits for qualified youth physical fitness programs. The Maryland bill is part of a broader legislation that also includes tax credits for adults and seniors, including $500 tax credits for health club membership dues.
In 2007, the Canadian government began providing parents with a $500 children’s fitness tax credit for eligible expenses for children under age 16. While the U.S. federal government doesn’t offer such an incentive, the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) bill, one of IHRSA’s signature pieces of proposed federal legislation, would allow parents to pay for children’s physical fitness expenses with money from their family’s pre-tax savings account. These accounts are typically used for such health-related costs as doctor visits and prescription drug co-pays. This bill would allow parents to pay for exercise expenses that could prevent diseases associated with obesity. The pre-tax savings would grant many families access to youth fitness activities, such as little league and soccer. [Advocate for passage of the PHIT Act on campaign4health.org.]
It’s not just legislators who are taking aim at childhood obesity. Acting Surgeon General Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., has launched an initiative called Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future. The goal of the program is to highlight local communities that are coming together to motivate kids to exercise and eat nutritious foods as well as teaching them to make healthy choices.
“Teaching our children the importance of eating well and being physically active at a young age is crucial to reversing the trend of obesity in this country,” said Galson. “Everyone has a role to play in this fight to prevent childhood obesity.”
IHRSA actively supports efforts to improve the health of children through physical activity and proper nutrition. In 2008, via work with the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity, IHRSA supported the addition of PE requirements in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in Congress.
For more information, visit www.ihrsa.org/publicpolicy.
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