Working Out for the Better

The gym. For some people, it is a chore. For others, a way of life. And for many, it is a mysterious world with secret rules and “gymfluencers” taking videos of themselves to post on social media. But really, it’s just a place to go where you can be physically active and reap the health benefits that come with that activity.
 
The benefits of regular exercise can be an enormous boon to individuals, and there are some simple, cost-effective steps employers can take to help improve their members’ access to, and thus likelihood to utilize, fitness centers. When employers support their members’ health journeys through gym access, as part of a wellness plan, the results can be a major win-win.


 

ROI and Reps

According to analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wellness programs have an average return on investment (ROI) of 3.5:1, meaning that for every dollar spent by employers, they recoup $3.50 in savings[1] on health care costs and absenteeism. That’s huge. Now, to be clear, that ROI is based on an overall wellness plan offered by the employer, and enhanced gym access is part of it.
 

A Whole-Body Workout

Here’s the truly inspiring part of the story, where we tick off all the various ways that regular exercise has been found to improve the health of individuals. But first, did you know that people with fitness center memberships have been found to be 14 times more aerobically active than non-members and 10 times more likely to meet muscle-strengthening guidelines[2] than non-members, regardless of age and weight or gender? While it’s not a guarantee, there is evidence to suggest that putting a gym membership into a member’s possession makes them far more likely to maintain an active lifestyle.
 
And once an individual adopts an active lifestyle, there are certain benefits they may experience. At a fundamental level, exercise has been shown to improve immune system function[3] as seen through increased white blood cell counts. Moreover, a narrative review of existing research[4] indicated that regular exercise was linked to a reduction in severity of many common chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression, and osteoporosis.
 

Membership has its Privileges

There are few medical interventions that are as effective and easy to implement as fitness center membership programs. For employers looking to make it simple and quick for their members to join a gym, the Active & Fit program offers a wonderful value for members and clients, with members able to select a fitness center from tens of thousands of options for one low monthly price. If you’re interested in learning more about this program, or other gymnasium assistance and reimbursement programs, please connect with us through the form below, and someone will be in touch with you soon.