Originally published August 7 2005
Health clubs are starting to target a younger crowd
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Because of the increased levels of obesity in youngsters, health clubs have started to offer fun programs to young adults in an effort to make fitness fun.
Health clubs used to be an adults-only oasis, a place where children were relegated to the facility's baby-sitting room while their parents worked out.
But concerns about childhood obesity and intensified training programs for student athletes have created more "childfriendly" health clubs, which market everything from kickboxing to Kids Cardio workouts for the under-18 crowd.
On a recent Friday evening, Scheider brought his three sons to the West Shore YMCA in Hampden Township for a night of family exercise.
And children are the second-fastest growing segment of health dub membership - just behind the 55-and-older population - at health clubs across the country, the association reported.
A report in the March edition of the New England Journal of Medicine states young Americans may live shorter lives than their parents because obesity will shave two to five years off the average life expectancy by 2050.
About 30 percent of American children are overweight, and 15 percent are obese, according to the American Obesity Association.
Kids don't play stickball in the streets for hours anymore," said MacInnis, who called childhood obesity a national epidemic.
In Conewago Township, the Family Athletic Club of Hershey started its first workout program for children in January The dub offered an eight-week Fit Kids program that taught 10- to 15-year-olds aerobics and how to use the club's cardio and Nautilus; equipment.
Purcell's dub grossed only $400 for the center's child-related fitness this year, but she expects that amount to increase as demand for children's programming grows.
A second eight-week Fit Kids session will begin this spring.
Mary Driscoll, wellness coordinator at C5 Fitness in Swatara Township, started a Get Fit Kids program two months ago in response to parents' requests for children's programming.
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