Better Business Bureau Receiving More Fitness-Club Complaints
ARLINGTON, VA -- The number of complaints received by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for fitness clubs has increased more than 90 percent in the last five years, according to a recent BBB study....
ACE Predicts Fun for 2008
SAN DIEGO -- This year promises to be filled with water aerobics, boxing clubs and spicy Latin dancing....
Nonprofits, Private Studios More Appealing Than Club Chains, Survey Says
By: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor
YONKERS, NY -- Readers of Consumer Reports gave higher marks to private studios, nonprofit organizations, local community centers and office fitness facilities over most national health-club chains other than Life Time Fitness in Consumer Reports National Research Center’s first health club survey....
Man Wanted in Connection With Assault on Fitness Trainer Turns Himself In
Sherborne Controls Nautilus
VANCOUVER, WA -- Nautilus Inc.’s board is now controlled by its largest shareholder, Sherborne Investors, Nautilus confirmed on Monday. At the company’s Dec. 18 shareholder meeting, shareholders voted four Sherborne Investor nominees onto the seven-member board....
Food Pyramid Changes for Seniors
BOSTON -- The food pyramid for people older than 70 looks a bit different from that of younger adults these days. Researchers at Tufts University in Boston recently revamped the food pyramid for older adults that they developed in 1999....
Gold’s Gym Announces Year-End Results
DALLAS -- Gold’s Gym International announced that it is ending 2007 with a company-record number of club openings and new franchises. During the 12-month period, the company unveiled more than 60 new Gold’s Gyms around the world and signed more than 75 new franchise agreements. ...
Celebrity Fitness Trainer in Coma After Assault
ATLANTA -- A celebrity fitness trainer remained in a coma Thursday after he was severely beaten in a downtown Atlanta parking lot, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ...
Schwarzenegger Launches Second Annual Governor’s Challenge Competition
SACRAMENTO, CA -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched the second annual Governor’s Challenge Competition on Dec. 18 at Culver City (CA) Middle School. Joining Schwarzenegger at the event was Jake Steinfeld, chairman of the governor’s council on physical fitness and sports. ...
YMCA Introduces New Strategic Plan
CHICAGO -- Because of the current health challenges facing families and individuals, Neil Nicoll, president and CEO of the YMCA of the USA, issued a New Year's resolution for the organization: continue to get Americans healthy. To do that, the YMCA is implementing a new strategic plan focused on the holistic development of children and youth, family strengthening, and health and well-being for all. ...
Yokosuka Fitness Program Encourages Staying Fit During Holidays
YOKOSUKA, JAPAN -- Sailors and their family members stationed in Yokosuka, Japan have a new way to burn calories and stay fit during the holiday season. The 12 Cardio Days Before Christmas fitness program was developed by Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) and is designed to motivate sailors to embrace the Navy's Culture of Fitness—even during the holidays....
Wisconsin YWCA Fitness Center Closes
RACINE, WI-- In order to focus more on the YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women, the YWCA in Racine, WI, was closed earlier this month. The move takes the organization out of the health and fitness arena, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. ...
Personal Trainer Charged With First-Degree Murder
SAN JOSE, CA -- A personal trainer at Fitness USA in Milpitas, CA, will be arraigned on Friday in Santa Clara (CA) County Superior Court for charges of first-degree murder of one of his clients, according to the San Jose Mercury News....
Gerend Moves into Life Time President Position
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN -- Michael J. Gerend is the new president of Life Time Fitness, Eden Prairie, MN, according to an announcement today from the company. Gerend had been chief operating officer with the company since March 2003. He will continue in that role in addition to serving as president. ...
Nautilus Vote Too Close to Call
By: By Pamela Kufahl, editor
VANCOUVER, WA -- Although Sherborne Investors is claiming victory at yesterday’s meeting of Nautilus shareholders, Robert Falcone, CEO of the equipment manufacturer, told one media outlet that it was too close to call....
People Want Financial Fitness More Than Physical Fitness, Survey Says
THOUSAND OAKS, CA -- More Americans will make financial fitness more of a priority than physical fitness in 2008, according to a recent survey....
New Hampshire Club Faces Eviction, Trademark-Infringement Charges
HUDSON, NH -- A fitness club that had already been charged with trademark infringement has also failed to pay nearly $14,000 in rent and faces court-ordered eviction on Friday, according to the Nashua (NH) Telegraph. ...
School Equipment Scammers Sentenced to Prison
By: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor
MINNEAPOLIS -- A father and son who bilked school districts into acquiring “free” fitness equipment as part of a pyramid scheme were sentenced Dec. 7 to lengthy prison terms and will have to pay $39 million in restitution....
Nautilus Gets Support from Advisory Firms
By: By Pamela Kufahl, editor
VANCOUVER, WA – Three voting advisory services have recommended that Nautilus Inc. shareholders vote against the full proposal by Sherborne Investors LP to oust four of Nautilus’ seven board members at the company’s shareholder meeting on Dec. 18 in Vancouver, WA, according to Nautilus. ...
Navy Fitness Launches Youth Fitness Program
MILLINGTON, TN -- In a proactive effort to help Navy youth discover the benefits of healthy lifestyles and combat obesity, Navy Child and Youth Programs (CYP) launched FitFactor, a Web-based health and fitness initiative....
New Jersey Y Employee Tests Positive for MRSA
By: By Jennipher Shaver, senior associate editor
MIDDLETOWN, NJ -- A part-time administrative employee at the Community YMCA's Red Bank Family Health and Fitness Center in Red Bank, NJ, tested positive for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on Friday. ...
Bricks Buy Rights to Planet Fitness Club Locations
DOVER, NH -- Victor and Lynne Brick, owners of the Brick Bodies chain in Maryland, recently purchased the rights to several Planet Fitness locations in their home state, according to Planet Fitness and World Gym President Ben Midgley....
Even Minimal Amount of Fitness Can Slow Death Rate, Study Shows
COLUMBIA, SC -- A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that fitness level, not body fat, is a stronger indicator in judging longevity for older adults....
Michigan Y Throws Out Sex Offenders
MUSKEGON, MI -- The Muskegon Family YMCA in Muskegon, MI, recently terminated 20 memberships after finding members’ names on the Michigan State Police Sex Offender Registry during a recent check, according to the Muskegon Chronicle. ...
New Fitness Program Helps Pregnant Soldiers
FORT JACKSON, SC -- The Army's U.S. Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine recently created and instated a pregnancy/postpartum physical training program at Fort Jackson, SC, to bring pregnant soldiers back to their mission as quickly as possible, as well as increase the health benefits for both mother and child. ...
