Anytime Fitness For Additional Information, Contact: Tara Dosh, PR ...
Anytime Fitness For Additional Information, Contact: Tara Dosh, PR ...
Anytime Fitness For Additional Information, Contact: Tara Dosh, PR ...
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<strong>Anytime</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong><br />
<strong>For</strong> <strong>Additional</strong> <strong>Information</strong>, <strong>Contact</strong>:<br />
<strong>Tara</strong> <strong>Dosh</strong>, <strong>PR</strong> Manager<br />
tara@anytimefitness.com<br />
ANYTIME FITNESS RELEASES THIRD ANNUAL “WEIGHT OF THE UNION” REPORT<br />
Bad News: Obesity Stunts Economic Growth, Threatens National Security<br />
Good News: Incentivizing <strong>Fitness</strong> Leads to Surge in Gym Visits<br />
Hastings, MN, February 13, 2012– The United States is the wealthiest nation on earth, but devotes a<br />
greater percentage of its GDP to health care than any other country, according to a report released by<br />
<strong>Anytime</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong>. In fact, $147 billion a year is spent in direct medical costs related to obesity. If that<br />
money were to be reallocated, America could invest in five hundred thousand newly built homes, 1.6<br />
million full college scholarships, or 35 billion healthy meals.<br />
The economic impact of obesity extends beyond rising health care costs to include $153 billion per year<br />
in lost productivity to companies, and $1 billion per year in medical care for active duty members.<br />
These statistics are part of the third annual <strong>Anytime</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong> "Weight of the Union" report, which<br />
examines the macro implications of obesity on the nation’s health, and provides recommendations to<br />
curb the growing epidemic.<br />
<strong>Anytime</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong> is the world’s fastest-growing fitness franchise, with nearly 2,100 locations in more than<br />
a dozen countries.<br />
To view the full report, click here.<br />
“We’ve reached an unhealthy tipping point in America,” says CEO and co-founder of <strong>Anytime</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong><br />
Chuck Runyon. “The report is a sobering reminder that the state of the nation’s health is still very weak,<br />
but there are meaningful steps we can take towards reclaiming our health – chief among them:<br />
increasing incentives to encourage and reward physical activity.”
In December, 2012, Runyon spearheaded a coalition of Minnesota-based fitness clubs – “FitMN” – which<br />
proposed:<br />
Providing tax incentives for businesses to pay for fitness club memberships for their employees.<br />
Allowing individuals and families to use pre-tax dollars from their Healthcare Spending Accounts<br />
(HSAs) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to pay for fitness club memberships.<br />
Allowing expenses an individual incurs for wellness services, in the form of dues, fees or<br />
membership expenses (up to $500 per individual or $1,000 per family annually) to be subtracted<br />
from the individual’s adjusted gross income.<br />
Money really does influence behavior. An internal <strong>Anytime</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong> case study concluded that from<br />
October 2011-October 2012, members in MN and WI who were reimbursed $20 per month as a reward<br />
for visiting the gym 12 or more times per month, exercised four times as often compared to members<br />
who did not receive $20. Members who received $20 reimbursements averaged 12.4 workouts per<br />
month, whereas, members who were not reimbursement averaged 3.1 workouts per month.<br />
In 2012, <strong>Anytime</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong> members saved nearly $5 million in reimbursements from their benefits<br />
providers, a 25% increase compared to the previous year.<br />
About <strong>Anytime</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong><br />
Founded in 2002, <strong>Anytime</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong> is the fastest-growing fitness club franchise in the world, with more<br />
than 2,000 clubs serving nearly 2,000,000 members in more than a dozen countries. Open 24 hours a<br />
day, 365 days a year, <strong>Anytime</strong> <strong>Fitness</strong> prides itself on providing its members with convenient and<br />
affordable fitness options in friendly, well-maintained facilities which feature top-quality exercise<br />
equipment. Clubs are now open in 49 states, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, England,<br />
Scotland, Grand Cayman, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Qatar, Japan and India. Join one club and use<br />
them all. Members in the U.S. also enjoy free access to <strong>Anytime</strong>Health.com, the most comprehensive<br />
wellness website available.