For immediate release
Aug. 5, 2009BRIDGING
THE HEALTH GAP: CONNECTING THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE AND THE GYM
New partnership with Anytime Fitness fosters collaboration between
health care providers, fitness professionals
INDIANAPOLIS
– Interweaving the worlds of doctors, fitness
professionals and patients into one model platform for optimum health and
fitness has long been a challenge for proponents of healthy lifestyles. But a
new partnership between the
Exercise is Medicine™
global initiative and Anytime Fitness, the world’s largest co-ed fitness chain,
aims to do just that and demonstrate how exercise can help solve America’s
health care crisis.
Exercise is Medicine, a program supported by numerous
national health and fitness organizations, is at the heart of the partnership.
The program supports the notion that health care providers – especially
physicians – should play a vital role in encouraging patients to get healthy.
And, on the flip side, fitness professionals should have the hands-on
opportunity to carry out the doctor’s orders within the four walls of a health
club.
“Exercise is preventive medicine,” said Robert Sallis,
M.D., chair of the Exercise is Medicine Task Force. “Anytime Fitness has the
unique opportunity to carry out one of our fundamental principles: that physical
activity isn’t about just looking good – it’s necessary for disease prevention
and a long, healthy life.”
As a founding partner sponsor of Exercise is Medicine,
Anytime Fitness will offer numerous benefits to gym patrons and health care
providers who take the health-and-fitness merge to heart, including:
The new collaboration is just one step in Anytime
Fitness’ mission to be much more than just a hard-bodies gym.
“Anytime Fitness is a strong believer in the connection
between exercise and medicine and our member success stories serve as proof of
this link” said Chuck Runyon, president and co-founder of Anytime Fitness. “The
connection between exercise and a healthy lifestyle is why Anytime Fitness works
to remove obstacles to fitness by locating our fitness centers closer to where
people work and live including smaller communities, keeping memberships
affordable and fostering a positive and supportive culture within our clubs.”.
Patients play a vital role in completing the
health-and-fitness circle, too.
“If your doctor or health care provider isn’t talking
to you about physical activity, bring it up,” Sallis said. “Ask them about the
best, safest kinds of exercise for you. This conversation should be and needs to
be a regular part of every doctor’s office visit.”
About Exercise is Medicine™
Exercise is Medicine™is an
initiative focused on encouraging primary care physicians and other health care
providers to include exercise when designing treatment plans for patients or to
refer the patient to a qualified health and fitness or other allied health care
professional for exercise counseling. Exercise is Medicine is committed to the
belief that exercise and physical activity are integral in the prevention and
treatment of diseases and should be regularly assessed as part of all medical
care.
About Anytime Fitness
Open 24/7, Anytime Fitness provides its more than 700,000 members with
convenient and affordable fitness options in friendly, well-maintained
facilities featuring top-quality equipment. State-of-the-art security and
surveillance systems ensure member safety even during unstaffed hours at the
clubs. Anytime Fitness expects to achieve system-wide sales in excess of $150
million in 2009. For more information about Anytime Fitness, or to find the club
nearest you, visit
www.anytimefitness.com.
|
