BOSTON— December 17, 2018—The holiday festivities and busy schedules can make it difficult to maintain a healthy routine, let alone commit to and stick with a weight loss plan.

To help health clubs guide their members to establish healthy and successful weight loss habits, IHRSA’s newest resource will outline how health club operators can set up and run effective weight loss programs. While these programs can be implemented any time of year, the release of this product is timed to help clubs looking to kick off a New Year’s weight loss program.

IHRSA’s Building an Effective Weight Loss Program in Your Gym provides introductory information and resources for fitness businesses (IHRSA membership not required) interested in offering weight loss programming to members for the first time.

Clubs can download the free resource to learn how to:

  • Structure an effective weight loss program;
  • Identify a specific target audience for the program;
  • Decide who will manage the program;
  • Choose a time and location for the program;
  • Track metrics for success;
  • Generate ideas for weekly educational themes;
  • And more.

“The combinations of lifestyle factors that produce an effective weight loss strategy can vary for every individual,” said Alex Black Larcom, IHRSA’s senior manager of health promotion & health policy. “However, having access to a safe workout space and a network of support—especially when it comes to nutrition—can greatly improve chances for success. Consumers are realizing that clubs can provide them with both. I specifically created this resource to appeal to and help the club operator who has not run weight loss programming in the past.”

Building an Effective Weight Loss Program in Your Gym is available for download now through the IHRSA website.

About IHRSA

The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) is a not-for-profit trade association representing health and fitness facilities, gyms, spas, sports clubs, and suppliers worldwide. IHRSA and its members are dedicated to making the world healthier through regular exercise and activity promotion.

IHRSA maintains a leadership role in advancing physical activity, which is critical to America’s health and the battle against obesity and chronic lifestyle disease. IHRSA supports policies that promote more active lifestyles to foster healthier, happier lives.