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Project 435

Project 435 – Uniting the Fitness Industry to share ONE Message with One Voice!

Project 435 is a National Health and Fitness Alliance Effort to secure strong representation in every congressional district throughout the United States.

Project 435 goal and #1 priority is collective and committed effort with all stakeholders in the Industry that will form a Team of Fitness professionals that is active in spreading the message to all 435 Members of The House of Representatives through a grassroots effort focusing on the key premise.

The Project 435 and National Health and Fitness Leadership Group will provide each member of the Project 435 team a monthly professionally prepared communication that can be easily personalized by each Fitness Advocate that will be forwarded to their local Congressional District.

Click here for the Project 435 1-pager.

Click here for the Project 435 information guide.

Click here to join today!

Meet Rebecca Phillips

Say hi to Rebecca Phillips, the Wellness Operations Supervisor at the Vidant Wellness Center in Greenville, NC. Check out how Rebecca brings her passion & energy in all that she does – it’s inspiring!

We caught up with Rebecca recently and here’s what she had to say!

Study Shows Health Benefits from Membership at a Medical Fitness Facility

The Medical Fitness Association is pleased to share that a recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine concludes that “membership at a medical fitness facility was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality and hospitalizations.”

Physical inactivity is a known risk factor for mortality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about half of the population in the United States achieves the recommended level of physical activity. The economic burden of physical inactivity is approximately 27 billion dollars per year.

The study was conducted over a ten-year period from 2005 to 2015 with two certified medical fitness facilities, The Wellness Institute and Reh-Fit Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to look at the link between membership at a medical fitness facility and health outcomes. Both facilities are certified by the Medical Fitness Association.

The medical fitness model is designed to improve health status by providing evidence-based, medically integrated programming to promote health. Unlike traditional fitness facilities, this model incorporates medical oversight; clinical integration with a health system; a higher level of staff education and training; health assessments; and health education.

Researchers were permitted to access over 500,000 deidentified provincial health records to use as the control group. The intervention group included over 19,000 members of The Wellness Institute and Reh-Fit Centre medical fitness facilities combined.

The study showed that:
• Medical fitness facility members had a 60 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality during the first 651 days and 48 percent lower after 651 days.
• Membership was also associated with a 13 percent lower risk of hospitalizations.
• Medical fitness members who attended more frequently (3 or more visits per week), the hospitalization rate was even lower.

“We are pleased to see the validation of what we have seen in the growing medical fitness industry,” said David Flench, CEO of the Medical Fitness Association. He added that certified medical fitness facilities provide a safe environment for older adults and those facing chronic diseases, while still serving the overall community for their health and wellness needs. “Medical fitness is defining the future of the fitness industry,” said Flench. “Over the past few years, we have seen an influx of commercial fitness facilities that are incorporating medical oversight and a broader offering of health and wellness services. As we now know, the benefit to members is significant.”

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About the Study
This study was supported by Seven Oaks General Hospital Foundation, Chronic Disease Innovation Centre, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Research Manitoba and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Click here to view the article. 

Click here to download the infographic.

 

Meet Katie Kontra

Say hi to Katie Kontra, the Fitness Manager at Mount Carmel Fitness in Lewis Center, OH. Check out Katie’s advice to find joy in all the relationships you make in this industry!

We caught up with Katie recently and here’s what she had to say!

Meet Ann Kehn

Say hi to Ann Kehn, the Aquatics Supervisor and Safety Team Member at Health & Fitness Center at Washtenaw Community College. Check out how Ann is helping her community to live life better through working in the water!

We caught up with Ann recently and here’s what she had to say!

Meet Jodee McCarty

Say hi to Jodee McCarty, the Group Fitness and Aquatic Manager at The Center for Health Improvement at Hays Medical. Check out how Jodee is helping her community to grown in health and wellness!

We caught up with Jodee recently and here’s what she had to say!

Meet Ryan Glatt

Say hi to Ryan Glatt, Brain Health Coach & Fitness Instructor at the Pacific Brain Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. Check out how Ryan is using “exergaming” to enhance cognition! Don’t miss his April 7th MFA webinar, Your Brain on Exercise!

We caught up with Ryan recently and here’s what he had to say!