24 Hour Fitness introduced universal exercise guidelines for people of all ages and fitness levels. The 24 Hour Fitness® Exercise Guidelines — an innovation in the health club industry — were developed by 24 Hour Fitness in consultation with former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General Susan Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A., a national health expert. The recommendations synthesize information from the most respected and authoritative organizations on health and wellness, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association.
“Our goal is to break down the barriers that prevent people from reaching their fitness goals, and we recognize that sometimes the hardest part of fitness is simply understanding what to do and how often to do it,” said Carl Liebert III, the CEO of 24 Hour Fitness. “We are proud to share these exercise guidelines with our members and the public, hoping that they will help people find ways to make fitness a part of their everyday lives.”
The new 24 Hour Fitness Exercise Guidelines offer clear, evidence-based recommendations that cut through the clutter and allow individuals to find the best possible fitness plan for themselves. In addition to providing recommendations for how frequently and intensely individuals should engage in both cardiovascular and strength-training exercises, the guidelines reflect specific considerations for four key groups:
• Adolescents (ages 11-17)
• Adults (ages 18-64)
• Older adults (ages 65 and older)
• Pregnant or postpartum women
For instance, 24 Hour Fitness recommends that the average adult participate in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity, or 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardio activity, five days per week and perform muscle-strengthening activities two to three days per week. The guidelines also provide examples of everyday activities, such as washing a car or playing sports, to help people meet their fitness needs both in and outside of the gym. Additional details about specific recommendations for each age group can be found at www.24hourfitness.com/exerciseguidelines.
“The introduction of these guidelines couldn’t be more timely, as a recent survey found that 72 percent of Americans plan to be more physically active in 2011,” said Randy Drake, the senior vice president of fitness for 24 Hour Fitness. “We know it’s not always easy to get to the gym, but if step one is goal-setting, then step two is having a clear understanding of how to get started and what to do in order to achieve, and even surpass, your personal goals.”
24 Hour Fitness members can expect to see these exercise guidelines rolled out across 24 Hour Fitness clubs nationwide, along with suggestions on how to customize fun, dynamic workouts that will help them meet these goals. The complete guidelines can also be found online at www.24hourfitness.com/exerciseguidelines.
About the 24 Hour Fitness Exercise Guidelines
Recommendations were synthesized from the following sources: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) including the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, the Surgeon General’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation 2010, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the 2010 World Health Organization Global Recommendations on Physical Activity and Health; the American Heart Association; the American College of Sports Medicine; the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and the Mayo Clinic. Each source’s guidelines were compiled and compared for areas of agreement. 24 Hour Fitness also developed these recommendations in consultation with former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General Susan Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A., a national health expert. These recommendations are an important component of health education efforts, but are not intended to be used for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional.
