Gainesville Health and Fitness Center

In Other News:

In honor of the city’s fifth year as the healthiest community in America, Gainesville Health & Fitness Centers is launching a Free Teen Membership program this summer for Alachua County 13- to 17-year-olds. The students can use any of GHFC’s three locations for workouts, group fitness, basketball, swimming, etc. from June 15 to August 15.

GHFC is offering this free program to show its commitment to making a difference in our community, in this case making a roughly $800,000 investment in Gainesville’s future by providing opportunities for all teens to improve their lifestyle, health and fitness. About 8,000 Alachua teens will be eligible for the free memberships, according to the most recent Census estimates.

GHFC’s organizers originally planned the free summer memberships as a way to encourage teens to become more active and combat the growing threat of teen obesity. The free program has now also become a way to ensure that all teens will have access to summer recreational activities in spite of the economic turmoil currently facing many families in our community, said Joe Cirulli, GHFC’s owner.

“At Gainesville Health & Fitness Centers, we want to do our part to help encourage teens to get and stay active,” Cirulli said. “One way we hope to encourage our teens is to offer these free two-month memberships, so our future generations will be well prepared to keep Gainesville the gold standard of healthy communities.”

Health-risk behaviors such as physical inactivity are consistently linked to academic failure, and often affect students' school attendance, grades, test scores, and ability to pay attention in class, according to a recent report by the CDC examining links between student health and academic achievement. Another CDC report links physical activity to higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of anxiety and stress and higher SAT scores.

Teens will be able to use the centers weekdays 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Tioga & Women’s Center locations and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Newberry Road location. A parent or legal guardian must enroll their teens, and provide proof of age, such as a birth certificate.

In April 2003, Gainesville became known as the healthiest community in the nation when it achieved the first and only “Gold Well City” award given by the Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA). Headed up by Gainesville Health & Fitness Centers, and with the support of Shands HealthCare and the Gainesville-area Chamber of Commerce, 21 businesses comprising 60 percent of the city’s workforce became involved in the “Gold Well City” effort. As of May 2008, Gainesville remains the only city in the country to reach the achievement.

By the Numbers:

5% - Percent of overweight 12- to 19-year-olds, 1976-1980 - CDC
16% - Percent of overweight 12- to 19-year-olds, 1999-2002 - CDC
17.4% - Percent of overweight 12- to 19-year-olds, 2003-2004 - CDC

8,000 – Approximate number of Alachua County teens eligible for program – census.gov

$800,000 – Potential community investment by Gainesville Health & Fitness Centers