Augie In Action! Augie In Action! - Ihrsa
Augie In Action! Augie In Action! - Ihrsa
Augie In Action! Augie In Action! - Ihrsa
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| News & Know How | News<br />
Short<br />
| Obesity Update |<br />
Is Obesity Really Leveling Off?<br />
Skeptics question CDC’s recent report of ‘plateau’<br />
> The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<br />
recently reported that obesity seemed to be leveling off for the<br />
first time since 1980. About 33% of adult men and 35% of women<br />
were regarded as obese in 2005-2006, as compared to 31%<br />
and 33%, respectively, during the 2003-2004 time period.<br />
Today, more than 72 million<br />
Americans fall into the obese category.<br />
Most are adults ages 40-59.<br />
CDC officials concluded that the<br />
increases, based on a survey and<br />
physical examination of 4,400 adults,<br />
weren’t statistically significant.<br />
Skeptics, however, warned that<br />
these figures were too high and<br />
still cause for concern. “Until the<br />
numbers start to go in the other<br />
direction, I don’t think we can<br />
consider this a success at all,”<br />
Mark Swanson, a researcher of<br />
32 Club Business <strong>In</strong>ternational | MARCH 2008 | www.ihrsa.org<br />
Takes | Fitness Franchises Face Off Online<br />
Cyberspace is now a virtual space in which you can “get the skinny,”<br />
so to speak, about how to firm up and slim down—in reality. <strong>In</strong> recent<br />
months, no less than three IHRSA members have introduced interactive<br />
health-and-fitness-minded Websites.<br />
• Curves <strong>In</strong>ternational, <strong>In</strong>c., the<br />
Woodway, Texas-based franchise<br />
company with more than 10,000<br />
locations worldwide, promises<br />
that users will “amaze themselves”<br />
when they subscribe to<br />
www.curvescomplete.com, a site<br />
awash with tips and tools inspired<br />
by the book Curves: Permanent<br />
Results Without Permanent<br />
Dieting, by Curves cofounder<br />
and CEO Gary Heavin.<br />
• Got a question? At www.askmehowtoloseweight.com, a site launched<br />
by Casey Conrad, the creator of the Healthy <strong>In</strong>spirations fitness franchise,<br />
industry expert Dr. Kevin Steele gives answers. Every two weeks,<br />
he and Conrad host a tele-seminar to answer user-submitted weightloss<br />
inquiries.<br />
• And elements, the franchiser of upscale clubs for women based<br />
in Miami, offers www.balanceyourelements.com, a Website offering<br />
members expert-provided solutions on everything from food to fitness<br />
to provide a “total-transformation” experience. —|<br />
Conflicting conclusions<br />
childhood obesity and school nutrition at the University of<br />
Kentucky’s College of Public Health, told the Associated Press.<br />
Bryan Young, the producer of an upcoming documentary<br />
about the dangers of obesity, titled Killer at Large, calls the<br />
CDC’s report a “clever PR stunt.” He argues that its claim<br />
that there have been “no significant<br />
gains” in the progression of obesity<br />
is inaccurate and misleading.<br />
“We’re still talking 2%-3% of the<br />
population—close to a million people—<br />
crossing over the threshold of obesity<br />
in the last two years. That sounds<br />
pretty significant to me,” Young points<br />
out. “This report is a failing grade<br />
for the government’s response to<br />
obesity, and they’re packaging it<br />
as a victory because the rate went<br />
up slightly less drastically than<br />
in years past.” —|