IDEA Survey Finds Fitness Facilities Focusing More on Community
SAN DIEGO -- Fitness facility owners are focusing on building communities for their members, according to results from the IDEA Fitness Programs and Equipment Survey. The 13th annual survey also finds that although new pieces of equipment and group exercise formats are popular in clubs, the old standbys are holding strong in popularity, too. ...
Fitnessgram Tests Reveal More About Texas Schoolchildren
AUSTIN, TX -- After further analysis of the results of the Fitnessgram test created by The Cooper Institute of Dallas and given to Texas schoolchildren in grades 3-12 this spring, children in high poverty levels have poorer fitness, and physically fit students tend to perform better on state standardized exams....
Physical Fitness May Slow Brain Atrophy in People With Alzheimer’s
KANSAS CITY, KS -- A new study shows that exercise may help slow brain shrinkage in people with early Alzheimer’s disease. In the study, people with early Alzheimer’s who were less physically fit had four times more brain shrinkage than normal older adults....
Two Military Fitness Centers in Construction Bill
WASHINGTON, DC -- Air Force and Navy Fitness may be adding new fitness centers to their ranks. A new fitness center at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina and Naval Air Station Kingsville (TX) were recently added by House appropriators to President Bush’s fiscal 2009 military construction request....
Planet Fitness Puts World Gym Up for Sale
By: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor
DOVER, NH -- It appears the World has become too much to handle for one Planet. Planet Fitness, which two years ago bought World Gym for around $10 million, is putting World Gym up for sale, Planet Fitness CEO Mike Grondahl confirmed Tuesday....
Arkansas Fitness Trainer Convicted of Rape
FAYETTEVILLE, AR -- A fitness trainer was convicted Wednesday of rape and was sentenced to a total of 45 years in prison, according to the Northwest Arkansas Times....
Indiana Y Closed Due to Bomb Threat
FORT WAYNE, IN -- After a bomb threat early Monday morning, administration at the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne (IN) closed its Allen County, IN, branches until 9 a.m. as a safety precaution. ...
Life Time Fitness Triathlon Set for Saturday
CHANHASSEN, MN -- The Life Time Fitness Triathlon will be held Saturday in Minneapolis and will include 11 triathletes who have qualified for next month’s Summer Olympics in Beijing. The event marks the start of the 2008 Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series Race to the Toyota Cup, which offers a $1.45 million purse....
Study Finds That Keeping a Food Diary Doubles Weight Loss
PORTLAND, OR -- Something as simple as keeping a food diary can double a person's weight loss, according to a new study. ...
Manufacturers Face Tough Economy
By: By Pamela Kufahl, editor, and Jennipher Shaver, senior associate editor
NATIONWIDE -- Some fitness equipment manufacturers across the country are being hit hard by the slowing economy and rising energy and material costs. To reduce costs, some companies are laying off workers and restructuring. Others report they are doing business as usual. ...
Mastrov Approves of Bally's Hiring of Former 24 Hour COO
By: Stuart Goldman
Chicago When Bally Total Fitness announced last month that it had appointed 24 Hour Fitness Chief Operating Officer Michael Sheehan as its new chief executive...
Life Time Announces Financing For Corporate HQ, Kansas Club
By: Stuart Goldman
Chanhassen, Mn Last month, Life Time Fitness received some capital to help with its growth strategy. The company announced a new $34 million credit facility...
South Dakota Y Puts Expansion on Hold
By: Jennipher Shaver
Rapid City, Sd The Rapid City (SD) YMCA is calling it quits on a proposed $13.2 million expansion to its facility. After two years of fund-raising, the...
Crunch Hires New President
By: Pamela Kufahl
New York A former restaurant company executive is getting a crash course in fitness as the new president and chief financial officer of Crunch. The New...
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Eighty-six percent of Americans attempt to make changes to improve their overall health, according to a recent survey. However, only 46 percent of those...
In BRIEF
Health and fitness industry sales and marketing professional Eddie Tock has launched a new company, Eddie Tock Health Club Sales and Marketing Consulting....
Manufacturers Face Tough Economy
By: Pamela Kufahl and Jennipher Shaver
Nationwide Some fitness equipment manufacturers across the country are being hit hard by the slowing economy and rising energy and material costs, but...
Retention Management Helps Decrease Member Attrition
Pinehurst, Nc The FirstHealth Center for Health & Fitness in Pinehurst, NC, decreased member attrition by 5 percent over the last year while using Retention...
Middle School Students Tour Life Fitness Facility
Schiller Park, Il More than 40 seventh- and eighth-grade students from Albany Park Multicultural Academy (APMA) in Chicago visited the international headquarters...
Florida Toughens Physical Education Standards
By: Stuart Goldman
Tallahassee, Fl Physical education received a boost in Florida last month when Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill expanding physical education requirements...
Go Figure Makes Donation To Healthworks
Sugar Land, Tx Go Figure Inc. donated its club management software and hardware to the Healthworks Foundation Fitness Center, scheduled to open later...
Select 24 Hour Fitness Locations Just Do It
San Ramon, Ca 24 Hour Fitness will offer Nike+iPod-enabled gym equipment in select clubs across the country beginning this month. The equipment will arrive...
Washed Away
By: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor, and Jennipher Shaver, senior associate editor
The extent of the damage caused by flooding in Iowa this summer won't be known for several weeks, perhaps even months. The rising waters from the Cedar,...
Top 100: Peak Performers
By: By Pamela Kufahl, editor
Most people would probably shout from the mountain top when they finally reach the pinnacle. However, in the fitness industry, shouting about your achievements...
Alaska, Arkansas Top President's Challenge
By: Stuart Goldman
Bloomington, In Alaska and Arkansas are near the top of the alphabet in the United States. They also are at the top of the recently completed President's...
