EHFA Update No. 009/2009
Welcome to the ninth edition of EHFA Update
Dear EHFA Friend
Welcome to the ninth edition of EHFA Update.
Items in our newsletter cover issues related to the health and fitness industry, such as, the latest developments at EU level; features that EHFA are currently working on; EHFA Members’ activities, and many others.
If you are an EHFA Member and feel that your news should be included, please contact us on thesecretariat@ehfa.eu
Thank you
EHFA Editorial Team
In this issue:
- Fitness Industry Commitments & EU Health Policy
- EHFA & DG EAC Sport Unit Meeting 5 October
- Nintendo Works With EHFA To Launch Their Wii Fit Plus
- "12 Days For Fitness"
- New EHFA Standards Council Kicks Off 15 October
- EHFA Upcoming Events
- Members' Corner
- EREPS Newsletter - "MORE 4"
1. Fitness Industry Commitments & EU Health Policy
Since 2006, EHFA has been a member of the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. Created in 2005 by the DG SANCO (Directorate General for Public Health & Consumer Protection) of the European Commission, this Platform regroups members from all European countries. Their wish, as a forum, is to tackle the obesity issue in Europe by concrete actions. These actions should be autonomous and stimulate national, regional and local initiatives. For more information on this Platform, please click here.
By being a member of this Platform, EHFA commits to the European Commission to work towards a healthier Europe.
In order to show the commitment of the health & fitness industry towards the battle against obesity, EHFA is contacting the national associations, as main stakeholders of the industry, to identify any actions that are being currently implemented, or are going to be taken in the near future.
If your organisation is currently running, or is planning to run any actions to help fight obesity through fitness related initiatives in your country, please contact thesecretariat@ehfa.eu
2. EHFA & DG EAC Sport Unit Meeting 5 October
EHFA Meets With Sport Officials Of The EU Commission In Brussels On 5 October 2009
During an informal lunch, EHFA discussions with DG EAC officials included an update on EHFA latest activities as well as further development of the Fitness Sector Qualifications Framework and the implications for defining the competencies (qualifications) for fitness instructors and personal trainers working across Europe.
The meeting also celebrated the Irish 'Yes' vote.
Sport is currently not an EU competence and is therefore only subject to EC law at certain times, for instance when it constitutes an “economic activity”, i.e. with regard to advertising, gambling, employment issues, transport, etc.
The entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, which is still under ratification in the Czech Republic, will give EU Institutions an explicit mandate to take action in the field of Sport.
In particular, it is expressed that formal sessions on sport will be introduced at the EU Council of Ministers and that the Commission will propose a sport programme to the Council and the European Parliament.
Although the Article 165 of the Lisbon Treaty will provide an explicit competence for sport, it will specifically exclude harmonization of national laws in this area.
The work of EHFA in Brussels over the past two years has helped to prepare our sector for this new situation.
EHFA will welcome a DG EAC speaker at its 2nd meeting of National Associations in Brussels scheduled for 17/18 November 2009 who will elaborate also on the above issue.
3. Nintendo Works with EHFA To Launch Their Wii Fit Plus
- Examples of Nintendo Wii Fit Exercises
Wii Fit Plus Pushing Fitness Up The Agenda
Wii Fit Plus hits the shops across Europe on 30th October 2009 bringing fun new exercise features for both mind and body to the acclaimed Wii Fit™ phenomenon. Millions across Europe gave Wii Fit the thumbs up as a valuable part of their exercise regimes and now Wii Fit Plus, with technical help from EHFA, is set to bring new ways to work out, track performance and have fun with at-home training regimes.
In addition to the weight and BMI tracking of Wii Fit™, a brand new calorimeter makes daily progress easier to track and helps keep people’s health at the forefront of their minds. The Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) is used to estimate the amount of oxygen used by the body during physical activity and so estimates your calories burned on each activity during gameplay. Wii Fit Plus, for example, can estimate that a person with a 70kg body weight carrying out the games’ Hula Hoop exercise for half an hour is the equivalent to 140kcal.
In order to explain the MET concept to a wider audience, Nintendo has commissioned EHFA to present its scientific validity. That is why the Chairman of EHFA's Standards Council, Prof. Alfonso Jiménez, was filmed by the gaming company who will use this video in its various media.
Prof Dr Alfonso Jiménez, from EHFA said: “The MET is a term widely used within the sport and exercise industry and so is a good measure for Nintendo to use within Wii Fit Plus. By using METs in Wii Fit Plus, Nintendo has been able to approximately calculate calorie usage".
Keen gym goers will also be excited to see how Wii Fit Plus can complement their normal gym routines –by creating their own workout plans and selecting preset programmes that are built around their own lifestyle - or just to have fun and exercise with the range of the fun new mini games. Wii Fit Plus classes, anyone?
For more information visit www.wiifitplus.co.uk
4. "12 Days For Fitness"
Augie Nieto, the inventor of the Lifecycle and founder and long time President of Life Fitness, is suffering from the disease ALS.
Augie can be considered one of the founding fathers of the fitness industry as we know it today, and therefore EHFA is supporting his quest to raise funds for the research to find a cure for this terrible disease.
The “12 Days of Fitness” for Augie's Quest program is a global grassroots campaign that demonstrates the health and fitness industry commitment to helping all people become more fit while lending a hand with important social causes.
During November and December participating clubs will open their doors to members of the community by inviting them to experience 12 consecutive days of fitness at their local Health and Fitness club with a donation of $20 to ALS. This is a great way to get more people, more active, more often and also help raise money for a good cause.
You will find all necessary tools to run this programe on http://www.clubsforthecure.com/12-days-of-fitness
EHFA encourages club owners to participate in this program.
5. EHFA Standards Council Kicks Off 15 October
The new EHFA Standards Council is meeting for the first time in Brussels on the 15/16th October 2009.
Prof. Dr Alfonso Jiménez, the new Chair of EHFA Standards Council and invited experts from different branches of our sector (training providers, researchers, operators, exercise professionals) will come together to discuss the revision of the current EHFA Level 3 & 4 Standards, as well as new standard levels to be drafted for the future, using also the EU tools, the ECVET and EQF Recommendations.
6. EHFA Upcoming Events
There are three important events which are being currently organized by EHFA:
- EHFA 2nd Meeting of National Associations 17/18 November 2009
For its 2nd meeting, EHFA is inviting all European and International associations to Brussels to discuss the current state of the fitness industry in Europe.
EHFA is able to provide some modest subsistence to its Members to help out with travel costs thanks to its Operating Grant from the EU Commission.
Please contact thesecretariat@ehfa.eu for further information. - EHFA 2nd Executive Leadership Forum 9/10 December 2009
Following the first successful Executive Leadership Forum in the Netherlands in June this year, industry leaders from accross Europe will gather together for the 2nd session in Brussels for a follow-up discussion.
Also, Prof. Willem van Mechelen, Chair of the EHFA Scientific Advisory Board and one of the world’s most renowned experts on physical activity and advisor to the EU Commission, the US Center for Disease Control, will give a short speech on his views on the relevancy of our sector in the battle against inactivity and life style diseases.
Participation to this event is by invitation. Please contact thesecretariat@ehfa.eu for more information and availability.
- EHFA 3rd European Fitness Forum 10/11 May 2010
After Prague in May 2009 and Hilversum in the Netherlands in May 2008, exercise professionals are invited to participate to the European Fitness Forum which will take place in Madrid on 10/11 May 2010. The programme is being currently prepared and will include plenary sessions and workshops covering issues relevant for training providers, operators and suppliers. The event will provide also multiple opportunities for networking.
7. Members' Corner:
- National Associations
EHFA welcomes DFHO from Denmark and FNEID from Spain, two national associations as members.
With these new Partners, EHFA now represents 12 national organisations at the European level.
- Platinum Partners
Cybex International and Life Fitness step up / increase their support for EHFA.
Two major fitness equipment suppliers have stepped up their support for EHFA.
Cybex International who were a regular member became EHFA Platinum Partner and Life Fitness increased their level of support from Platinum to Platinum Partner Plus, effective 1 October 2009.
Herman Rutgers, Executive Director says: “We are thrilled that in spite of the tough economic times that the leaders of these 2 companies show the vision to invest in the future of our European industry at large, and we are grateful for their support. This will enable EHFA to increase our European Affairs activity in Brussels and to invest in the roll out of our European Register for Exercise Professionals ( EREPS)”.
The Platinum Partners welcome several new members to their group. Three operators have maintained or upgraded their level of support to EHFA: Fitness First, HealthCity, SATS, while three others have joined the Platinum (Plus) level this autumn: Aspria, Curves International, SportCity/FitForFree
Thanks to these additional new members, EHFA breaks the 7,000 mark of total facilities represented.With this whole new force, EHFA will better represent the industry's interest towards the European Institutions.
- EHFA New Sponsors
EHFA also welcomes and thanks our sponsors Nintendo, Achmea Health Centers, High Five Health Promotion and Reebok International.