No matter what your opinions are about the state of health care, one thing is certain – the health club industry has the greatest opportunity to create change and transform the lives of Americans.
What Health Clubs Must Do
Educate your community - about exercise, healthy activities and nutrition. It’s the single most effective way to defeat the epidemic of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and conditions that lead to life-threatening diseases. Do you know that we are spending 40 times more on the health risks of terrorism than on the health risks of obesity, which kills about 400,000 people a year?
Create Physician Partnerships - that promote health and fitness practices to their patients. These healthy habits can prevent serious, chronic disease. Physicians need to focus on prevention as much as they are about disease management and crisis intervention. How many physicians are active members at your local health club?
Joint Venture with Insurance Companies - can integrate personal training, nutritional coaching, and mind-body classes (available services at health clubs) as preventive health care to be covered by insurance. Why do insurance compaines consider nutritional supplements, meditation, yoga, massage and other natural holistic therapies as “self-care luxuries” -vs- preventive measures to remain healthy?
Care for our Children - encourage innovative ways for our children to start young with healthy habits of exercise, nutrition and diet. It’s our responsiblity to communicate and educate this message to this generation.
The Future of Health Clubs
Health clubs can assist to reform the present health care system. Clubs who consciously choose to – focus on the member, identify the member’s exercise motivation and prescribe an exercise program which fulfills the member’s emotional, social and physical needs is as sustainable model that’s not competing on lowest price and shiny equipment.
