Health Through Exercise

Supporting Mental Health & Well-being in Health & Fitness Centers

With a generous grant from the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation, the IHRSA Foundation is providing resources for health clubs and studios to address mental health and well-being with members and visitors.

The IHRSA Foundation has developed information, best practices, case studies, and tools for health and fitness centers to help address mental health and well-being. This project also included a survey of fitness professionals to understand their perspectives on the role of fitness centers in optimizing mental health and well-being, readiness to address mental health, and current practices addressing mental wellness.

Expanding Inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities in Fitness 

With funding from the Special Olympics Inclusive Health Innovation Grant, supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this project focuses on building tools and resources to help fitness centers offer more programs and services for people with intellectual disabilities, and raising awareness and engagement.

Supporting Faith Leaders in Modeling & Facilitating Healthy Behavior Change

With support from the Caritate Life Enhancement Foundation, the IHRSA Foundation is working to help church leaders in Latin American communities guide and support their congregations to making healthy lifestyle changes. The IHRSA Foundation is working with Victory Outreach Reno, part of a Christian ministry with a network of over 700 churches around the world. 

This project involves an assessment of the current knowledge and readiness of U.S. based Victory Outreach Church leaders to model and facilitate health behavior changes, and resource development to support these leaders in improving the health and well-being of their communities through diet, exercise, and wellness.

The Industry Rallying Cry: A Data Driven Approach to Promote Behavior Change

IHRSA Foundation, with support from industry stakeholders and with input from a “Headlight Team” of volunteers from the fitness industry, has engaged ClearView Insights to develop an effective, evidence-based consumer-facing message promoting physical activity and exercise, including in fitness centers.

Specifically, the campaign aims to engage the 60% of the population who are not currently physically active. ClearView uses behavior science to measure what consumers are thinking and feeling, identifying the emotional rewards that motivate customers, and developing strategies and messaging to inspire positive behavioral change. ClearView, IHRSA staff, and a Headlight Team made up of industry marketing professionals, has developed a rallying cry and is in the process of testing the rallying cry to ensure that it will achieve the desired results.

Understanding What Motivates Consumers to Be Physically Active

The IHRSA Foundation, in collaboration with ABC Fitness Solutions, is conducting a consumer study to understand the underlying motivations and barriers related to physical activity. The IHRSA Foundation and ABC Fitness Solutions have commissioned ClubIntel to oversee the study, which will be based on survey results of a nationwide sample of 2,000 Americans ages 18 and older. The IHRSA Foundation will support the project through survey development, analysis, reporting, and communication of findings.

In June 2021, the IHRSA Foundation debuted a new website in order to increase awareness and education about the Foundation’s ongoing work and important initiatives.