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:: Publisher’sWelcome

President Obama, Can ABOUT IHRSA

Founded in 1981, the
International Health, Racquet
& Sportsclub Association
You Spare $77 Billion? (IHRSA) is a nonprofit associa-
tion representing more than
9,400 health clubs worldwide.
Get America active, and it won’t be necessary. IHRSA and its member clubs
are dedicated to making the
world healthier through regular
smoking habits can provide a return of $5.60 exercise and fitness promotion.
for every dollar invested within five years.
CEO & PRESIDENT
:: More companies are offering wellness Joe Moore
programs than ever: 57% of larger compa- BOARD OF DIRECTORS
nies (500 or more employees) and 16% of Gene LaMott, Chairperson
smaller companies offer some type of well- Gold’s Gym/Total Woman Gym
ness incentive. Based on several compelling & Atmosphere Day Spa
studies, researchers have documented a Laurie Smith
range of $1.49 to $13 return for every dollar Leisure Sports
invested in employee wellness. Phil Wendel
ACAC Fitness & Wellness
Centers
:: Exercise is medicine. Employees who
Lynne Brick
exercise one or more times per week have
Brick Bodies Fitness
lower health-care costs than their seden-
David Patchell-Evans
tary co-workers, regardless of their body Goodlife Fitness Clubs
weight. Also, studies have shown that Rick Beusman
adults gain two hours of life expectancy Saw Mill Club
Nearly every day, a new study comes across for each hour of regular exercise! Bob Shoulders
my desk highlighting the extensive physical Fayetteville Athletic Club
and psychological benefits of regular exercise. :: Most chronic diseases can be prevented Frank Napolitano
GlobalFit
Sadly, I am also confronted with statistic after or improved with regular exercise. Rather
statistic detailing the tremendous cost borne than choosing costly drugs and other
Mike Raymond
Curves International
by our society due to obesity-related illnesses. remedies, we need to act on the knowledge
Susan Cooper
that exercise is a powerful and accessible BodyBusiness Health Club & Spa
FIRST, THE BAD NEWS: Total national form of medicine. Art Curtis
health-care expenditures in the U.S. have Millennium Partners
reached $2.1 TRILLION, or approximately If all sedentary Americans were to begin Sports Club Management
$7,000 per person, representing 16% of the exercising regularly, we as a nation could Sandy Hoeffer
Western Athletic Clubs
GDP. Health-care spending is expected to realize an annual savings of $77 billion in
reach $4.2 TRILLION by 2016. We’re not just direct medical costs. In these challenging
Jeff Klinger
Anytime Fitness
killing ourselves; we’re bankrupting our times, couldn’t we use an extra $77 billion?
David Hardy
country — and at the worst possible time. Club Fit Corp.
Yours in health, Fitness Industry Council of
NOW, THE GOOD NEWS: One of IHRSA’s Canada
most popular publications, The Economic Kilian Fisher
ILAM - Ireland
Benefits of Exercise, is being updated for
Michael Levy, Ex-Officio
2009. Here’s a preview.
Spa Chakra Fitness
Jay Ablondi
:: A Penny saved is … 5.6 pennies earned! Publisher SPECIAL ADVISOR
Studies show that an annual investment of LATIN AMERICA
$10 per person in programs that increase P.S. Visit HealthClubs.com to order a copy of Richard Bilton
physical activity, improve nutrition or break the 2009 The Economic Benefits of Exercise. Companhia Athletica

4 IHRSA | w w w. h e a l t h c l u b s . c o m