Showing posts with label fitness professionals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness professionals. Show all posts

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Governments Eye Healthy Lifestyles for Tax Revenue

As shocking as it may sound, the fitness industry faces attempts by state and sometimes local governments every year that try to tax health club membership dues and services.

We strongly believe that exercise is medicine, so for us that is like taxing a your insurance co-pay for an annual wellness exam with your physician. No one politician would ever suggest that idea. Yet, in state after state they target residents who have taken control of their health and exercise at health clubs.

Currently, Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania and members of the Washington DC Council are considering proposals that would extend the sales to certain services, including health clubs. We're rallying fitness professionals and health club members in Pennsylvania and DC to speak out against taxes on their healthy habits. To date the response has been impressive, with thousands of messages sent to legislators.

All of this brings up a bigger question though: why is your health club membership a favorite target of legislators?

There are many possible answers to this question. Most legislators will claim that a shift from a product-based economy to one the centers on the sale of services, necessitates that all services be taxed. Based on your personal beliefs on taxation, you could find merit in that argument. But why is it that the services of physicians, hospitals, and clinics are never included? They too offer services.

Clearly, there is am important need to educate legislators everywhere that exercise is medicine and just as they would never consider taxing diabetes testing supplies, they should also never consider taxing exercise in the safe and supportive communities of health clubs.

- Bre McGahey

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.”

Friday, July 24, 2009

Health Care Reform, Prevention, Cost-Savings

President Barack Obama will address the nation tonight in a prime time news conference on health care reform. This is the latest event in what has been a full court press by the White House in recent days to try to build awareness and momentum around the debate. At a White House Rose Garden event on Tuesday, Obama said, “We've agreed that our health reform bill will emphasize prevention and wellness by investing in programs that help Americans live healthier lives. We will save money, prevent illness, and increase the competitiveness of our country. “

IHRSA and its partners continue to encourage legislators to use prevention to contain skyrocketing costs. In a statement released Monday, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) urged Congress to focus on the number one driver of health care costs- chronic disease. "We must focus on disease prevention and wellness in order to reduce unnecessary - and often preventable - costs and create a sustainable health care system," said Ken Thorpe, Ph.D., PFCD Executive Director. "We hope that as other Senate and House committees continue through mark ups, they will make certain that their bills contain adequate measures to address the economic burden of chronic disease and control costs in order to insure the passage of comprehensive, sustainable health care reform legislation in 2009."

While members of Congress and the Obama administration discuss health care reform, the President continues to call on Congress to move bills out of committee and to vote before the scheduled August recess. Though some in Washington are beginning to call the deadline impossible, committees are working very quickly to mark up the bills as soon as possible making this a crucial time for IHRSA’s Personal Health Investment Today Act and Workplace Health Improvement Program Act.

“Our DC team has been actively engaging with key legislators in both the House and the Senate on including the WHIP and PHIT Acts in health care reform,” said Helen Durkin, executive vice president IHRSA public policy. “But we do not have a million dollars a day to spend like the insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies. Our strength is the number of fitness professionals across America that are passionate about creating a culture of wellness in our nation.”

Fitness professionals can do their part by writing an email to Congress asking for their support of exercise as part of prevention in health care reform. All of the details are provided online at http://ihrsa.org/campaign. Clubs will be speaking out for legislation that not only encourages Americans to lead healthy lives but also provides them tax incentives to do so while promoting health clubs and growing the number of Americans with gym memberships.

- Breanne McGahey

Friday, May 22, 2009

Baucus, Grassley Release Report on Financing Health Care Reform

The following is an excerpt from Capitol Report, a weekly e-newsletter from IHRSA Public Policy. IHRSA Members- subscribe today!

On Monday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released a report on policy options for financing comprehensive health care reform. This is the third and final report from the Committee before they begin to mark up legislation in June. Three potential areas for funding are explored in the report; two are significant for IHRSA’s health promotion efforts.

One section the report explores current health care tax expenditures. Among those, are nine different policy options including modifying or eliminating Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Any change to FSAs is of particular importance to the fitness industry as it is the main tax vehicle for the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act (H.R. 2105).

While this report is not an outline of legislation that the Committee will consider, it does indicate the direction of the policies the Committee could well pursue. IHRSA has been and continues to heavily lobby members of the Senate Finance Committee and other Senators for their support of the PHIT Act. In fact, two Senators have expressed strong interest in introducing the bill in the Senate (it is currently, and historically has been, introduced in the House only). Fitness professionals are also speaking out. Earlier this month during the Summit for a Healthier America, fitness professionals met with staffers on the Committee and the offices of Senators on the Committee. It will be vital to the potential inclusion in any health care reform legislation that there is vocal support for Americans to continue to have access to FSAs and that FSAs be expanded to encourage healthy lifestyles.

The Senate report did address lifestyle tax proposals to “promote wellness and healthy lifestyle choices, and curb activities that increase overall health care costs.” The two policy options presented included the taxation of alcoholic beverages and excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. These measures demonstrate the Committee’s recognition that tax policy is a proven way to effect individual behavior change.

While these policies might “curb activities that increase overall health care costs” they do not go far enough to “promote wellness and healthy lifestyle choices.” Diet is only one part of the balance needed for a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity provides health benefits that diet alone cannot achieve. IHRSA will continue to lobby the Finance Committee and key Members of Congress for their support of tax policies that encourage physical activity as part of health care reform.

While IHRSA lobbies key Members, it is important that all Members of Congress hear from fitness professionals in their districts about the power of exercise and its impact on the people that they represent on Capitol Hill. You can make your voice heard by joining the Campaign for a Healthier America’s virtual march on Washington.

- Breanne McGahey

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Looking for a few good fitness professionals


We need a few good fitness professionals to travel to Washington, DC on May 6 and 7, 2009 to represent their congressional district or state and meet with key congressional leaders about the role of exercise in health care reform as part of the Campaign for a Healthier America. Are you willing to step up to the plate and speak out for healthy lifestyles?

Maybe in your mind, you scrolling through a list of excuses right now. I'm too busy. Someone else from my district will go. It's too expensive. I can't make a difference. I don't know the first thing about politics. I'm not even interested in politics.

Here is the thing: the Summit for a Healthier America is not about politics, it is not about professional lobbyists, it's not about leaving it up to the "next guy." It's about participating in the political process, something that every American has the right and the obligation to do.

What happens in your health club matters to the future of America and fundamental changes in our health care system. We need you to tell that story to your Members of Congress. You don't have to know the specific details of the legislation, you just need to be passionate about making America healthier.

I hope you will consider joining us. It is an amazing experience. You will leave with a new outlook on DC and the difference that you can make in our country. It may sound hookey, but I promise, it's true. Register online today.

If you are at fitness professional at an IHRSA member club in good standing and live or work in one of our target districts, you may be eligible for a travel scholarship to the Summit for a Healthier America. See a list of target districts here.

- Breanne McGahey

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Campaign for a Healthier America Advocate Spotlight

This week, the Campaign for a Healthier America spotlight is on our new friend and advocate for healthy lifestyles, Michael Field. He is the owner of Gold's Gym in Providence, Rhode Island. This is a great club! Not only have fitness professionals from this club attended our Summit for a Healthier America in DC, but they are a sponsor and event host for Shape Up RI.

According to the Shape Up RI website, "Shape Up RI is a statewide exercise and weight loss challenge founded by Brown Medical School student Rajiv Kumar on the belief that the solution to healthy living lies in the power of teamwork and peer support. This annual health campaign encourages Rhode Islanders to pursue healthy lifestyles through increased physical activity and better nutrition."

IHRSA is proud to Michael and Gold's Gym Providence as part of our family of fitness professionals who work hard every day to make America healthier!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Spring in DC

It's a sunny day in Boston and I've started thinking about the fast-approaching Summit for a Healthier America. Every Spring, for the last six years we have traveled to Washington for our largest annual Grassroots Initiative event. As the weather warms and we head into Convention, things start picking up for our advocacy.

This year we have a new spin on things. The name has changed from the Legislative Summit to the Summit for a Healthier America. It is also now part of our Campaign for a Healthier America, which will launch at the IHRSA 2009 Convention on Monday. Keep reading for more.

Spring and Change are in the air. Check out some photos from last year's event.



Created with flickr slideshow.


- Breanne McGahey

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

VICTORY! New York Health Club Dues Tax Defeated


New York Governor David Paterson announced just hours ago that he has come to an agreement with legislative leaders to not extend the sales tax to health club membership dues and services. This is a major victory for healthy lifestyles in New York and the health club industry.

Over the last nine weeks, 2,441 fitness professionals and health club members wrote 7,902 messages to legislators in Albany. Many fitness professionals and club companies met personally with legislators to discuss the impact that the tax would have on their members and their businesses. The voices of our advocates for healthy lifestyles were heard loud and clear in Albany!

“This is an incredible victory, especially considering the massive deficit facing New York,“ said Joe Moore, IHRSA President and CEO. “It is a testament to the power of working together. With IHRSA collaborating with concerned fitness professionals, our lobbyist, and the people of New York, we were able to highlight the inconsistent messaging of an "obesity" tax on sodas and a "healthy lifestyle tax" on preventative exercise, and stop this proposal in its tracks.”

Paterson came to an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to eliminate $1.3 billion in tax increases included in the proposed 2009-10 Executive Budget. In addition to health club dues and services, clothing under $110, sugared drinks, digital downloads, cable and satellite television, manufacturers’ coupons, haircuts, manicures, concerts, movies, live theatre, bowling, golf, skiing and others were eliminated.

“The proposed tax increases we are eliminating today were only put forward as a last resort when the deficit ballooned to an unprecedented level,” said Paterson in a statement. “Now that enhanced federal funding is available, our highest priority must be to provide targeted relief to those who need it most during this economic crisis – average New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet.”

-Breanne McGahey

Monday, January 12, 2009

The Ones We Have Been Waiting For

President-elect Obama famously stated "We are the ones we have been waiting for" during his triumphant primary campaign. He used the line as a rallying cry for his supporters, urging them to get involved with his campaign, rather than wait for someone else to affect the change he and his supporters were seeking. I think most people, regardless of political stripe, would agree that this was an effective message.

This article on the importance of primary prevention, written by a personal trainer in Fort Collins, CO, gives me hope for a rousing chorus of voices coming from the fitness industry as our nation's policymakers debate the shape and form of our next health care system. I know firsthand, from my experiences at IHRSA's Legislative Summit, that fitness professionals can be astonishingly effective advocates, simply by explaining their passion for fitness. IHRSA's public policy team stands waiting to assist any fitness professionals that wish to get involved and, if i may bring the post full-circle, "be the ones we have been waiting for."

I want to also give credit to article's author, Mr. Mark Gomez, for distinguishing primary prevention - such as physical activity and nutrition counseling - from secondary prevention, which includes things like regular screenings. These two types of prevention are typically lumped together in media articles, especially to argue that "prevention" doesn't save money. Of course, primary prevention certainly saves money (e.g. increased physical activity to reduce the risk of diabetes), which is why the government should encourage it, while secondary prevention saves lives, which is also a more than reasonable government interest.

- Tom Richards