Youth Fitness Equipment

Designing youth fitness equipment isn't as simple as miniaturizing adult equipment.

Tackling the problem of childhood obesity is no easy task, but it's one that more fitness facilities are taking seriously. Research has shown the benefits of exercise for people of all ages, but enticing kids to get off the couch and into a fitness center is half the battle. "The demand for youth fitness equipment is definitely on the rise, but the demand is for high quality and innovation, not just the cool things that kids may like," says John Salvitti, president of Strive Enterprises Inc., Canonsburg, Pa. "The market is concerned about fads and is intent on sustaining a child's interest level, so . . . there is a higher level of interest on programming."

Still, designing youth fitness equipment isn't as simple as miniaturizing adult equipment. "Children are not mini-adults," explains Phil Arney, owner of and partner in Youth Fitness Solutions Inc., Belton, Texas. "They have different needs and requirements than adults, so exercise and equipment for children needs to be designed for them." Yet the fact remains that children - especially teenagers - don't want to be treated like kids. "The mistake we cannot make in design is to make a kid feel like a kid," admits Salvitti. "While kids may have different preferences than adults, they want to be treated like young adults, and we need to consider this in design."

Youth fitness equipment manufacturers have developed several solutions to these issues.

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