BOSTON -- The 7th annual Get Active America! Week will occur May 3-9, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). The event is a national health promotion program sponsored by IHRSA.

During the week, participating IHRSA-member health clubs will open their doors to the public to encourage and inspire Americans to take control of their health by becoming more physically active.

Get Active America! is part of an ongoing effort by the health club industry to change the direction of the nation’s health by making exercise more accessible to millions of Americans and by helping them take the first step toward healthier lifestyles, according to IHRSA, the trade association for for-profit health clubs.

“As obesity levels associated with chronic diseases increasingly burden our health care system and interfere with our quality of life, one thing is clear: Americans urgently need to take control of their health,” said Joe Moore, IHRSA president and CEO. “This year’s program theme, Take Back Your Health, is a reminder to all Americans that they have more control over their health than they realize. Better health management begins with a commitment to daily exercise, and Get Active America! is the jumpstart people need to get on track.”

Get Active America! takes place every May during National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, which is coordinated by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. The purpose is to challenge Americans to get moving for better health and to get more active and fit during the month of May.

“May is an ideal time, and Get Active America! is a great program for helping people maintain the momentum of their New Year’s fitness goals,” said Moore. “As warm weather approaches, people become more aware of their physical appearance. We want to remind people that exercise is more than just a way to look better. It is also an effective way to feel better and live better. Get Active America! provides the kind of support people need to both achieve their fitness goals and maintain them year-round.”

As part of Get Active America!, many clubs will be educating their local communities about disease prevention and healthy living through exercise. And clubs will be offering programs to benefit the wide array of people in their communities, all with diverse health and fitness goals.

Clubs also will be encouraging their members to sign up for the Woman Challenge, organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. This eight-week physical fitness challenge encourages women to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. It’s part of National Women’s Health Week, which runs from May 9-15.

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