Source: Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)
SFIA Applauds Efforts to Improve Fitness and Activity Rates
Washington, DC, May 16, 2016 – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) today releases the following statement regarding the high cost of health care associated with declining physical fitness rates among Americans and the efforts to encourage healthier lifestyle choices.
“SFIA and the country's top leading fitness experts are concerned about the growing sedentary lifestyle and the economic strain it has on individuals, employers, and the larger health care delivery system”, said SFIA President & CEO Tom Cove.
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and this week, policymakers and health & fitness experts will be examining ways to encourage greater physical activity among our children, working adults, and seniors. Four days will be dedicated to bringing industry leaders and government policymakers together for a comprehensive conversation aimed at encouraging wellness and preventative health care.
Prevention is key to reducing healthcare spending. A study conducted by the World Health Organization confirmed the economic benefits of activity: $1 invested in Physical Activity in America will reduce future healthcare costs by $3.20.
Part of the weeks focus will feature congressional leaders encouraging legislative solutions that promote health active lifestyles such as the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act. The bill sponsors, Congressmen Charles Boustany (R-LA) and Ron Kind (D-WI), and a growing number of bipartisan co-sponsors have been actively working to expand consumer choice by broadening the definition of preventative health care as it relates to our nation's tax code.
“Promoting good health, especially to kids, is important because it is hard to develop a healthy mind without a healthy body,” said Congressman Ron Kind (WI-3). "In order to get kids active and promote healthy lifestyles, we need to remove the cost barrier and make it more affordable to participate in regular physical activities. I strongly believe that by passing the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act we will help give people the incentive to adopt an active lifestyle and motivation to take care of their health.”
The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Chairman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) will hold a hearing, entitled "Tax-Related Proposals to Improve Health Care.” Upon announcing the hearing, the Chairman said, "Many provisions in our tax code have made it difficult for Americans to access the health care they want and need. Last month, our Committee started a robust conversation about how we can modernize the tax code to deliver the high-quality, affordable, portable health care options Americans deserve.”
SFIA commends Chairman Tiberi and the House Ways & Means Subcommittee members for exploring bipartisan solutions to prevent illness and improve the health of Americans.
ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit www.sfia.org.
