Corporate America agrees that employee wellness programs are good for business. According to the 2011 Employee Benefits report by SHRM, 60% of firms surveyed currently offer some type of employee wellness programming. Fitness center reimbursements are offered by 30% of the organizations surveyed, while 24% provide an onsite fitness center.

The case for employee wellness programming includes favorable data on reduced health care costs and increased worker productivity, among other metrics.

The usual data, however, may be failing to capture two of the most profound benefits of physical activity based employee wellness programs: improved mental health and increased mental performance.

As a result, many firms may be missing an opportunity to implement physical activity-based worksite programming that could lead to greater innovation and execution.

Two recent articles illuminate this opportunity.

A McClatchy commentary by IHRSA’s Executive VP of Public Policy notes: “The benefits that exercise brings to mental health are just one more reason why we need to implement public policies and community strategies that facilitate physical activity…When an individual is both physically and mentally well, he or she is more productive, more innovative, takes fewer sick days, contributes more to the gross domestic product, and collects fewer employer and government-paid disability and unemployment claims. In short, investing today in America’s physical and mental health is investing in our country’s future prosperity.”

A paper by Jack Groppel and Ben Wiegand of Wellness & Prevention, Inc. dives deeper into the biology of business performance and the relation to physical activity. “Remaining sedentary for extended periods (e.g. sitting at a workstation or in meetings for long periods of time) impairs the flow of blood and oxygen — particularly to muscles — which can often lead to fatigue,” write Groppel and Wiegand. “Engaging in physical activity can create brief periods of hyperoxygenation in the brain and increasing oxygen intake has been shown to enhance energy, mental performance and memory recall.”

In fact, Groppel and Weigand cite data suggesting that mental performance-enhancing biochemical changes in the brain may be spurred by as few as three hours/week of brisk walking.

As the health club trade association, we know there is a great opportunity for fitness centers to position their programs and facilities as evidence-based outlets for improving the mental health and performance of employees. But there are, of course, other practices that an employer can adopt, such as conducting walking meetings and encouraging employees to take fitness breaks throughout the day. Maybe even a little Instant Recess?

We’d love to hear from any organization that has had success marketing physical activity as a valuable tool to increase employee mental health…

The 2nd anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign provides a moment to raise awareness of the obesity epidemic and reflect on two years of real progress.

Thanks, in large part, to Let's Move!, concern over obesity now extends beyond public health circles and may be found in local schools, faith-based organizations, and town meetings. And, perhaps most importantly, the Let's Move! campaign seems to have ignited a golden age of innovation for anti-obesity programs designed to create sustainable healthy habits.

But what fascinates me most about Let's Move! is the role of its champion, First Lady Michelle Obama. Of course, her standing as First Lady provides her with a podium and an audience, but it has been the combination of her passion and energy that has fueled the development of countless initiatives around the nation. Quite simply, she has accomplished what very few studies or policy statements can ever hope to do - she has inspired people to take action.

She is widely viewed as a talented, charismatic communicator, but her skill set is by no means unique in America. American communities are full of passionate and energetic folks who can rally others to their causes. Community leaders are part of our national heritage.

One of this year's major goals for the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) will be to encourage and support the efforts of IHRSA health clubs - i.e. passionate fitness advocates - to transform their facilities to vital community hubs for healthy living and disease prevention. We believe, wholeheartedly, that the success of the Let's Move! team may be replicated on a local scale by fitness centers. In fact, it's already happening.

IHRSA's commitment to health promotion will be on full display this month at IHRSA's 31st Annual Convention & Trade Show in Los Angeles, CA.

The convention schedule includes sessions such as, "Leveraging Healthcare & Wellness Programming to Better Serve the Community," "If Exercise is Medicine, How do Health Clubs Cure Illness?" and "Lessons from Corporate Wellness to Get People Active."

The capstone session, however, will be a keynote presentation and panel with members of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition ("the Council") to discuss the IHRSA Joining Forces Network and other opportunities for health clubs to impact the wellness of their communities. IHRSA's Get Active America program, for example, will empower clubs to become champions for the Council's PALA+ program, which encourages folks to be active and improve their diet 5 days/week for at least 6 out of 8 weeks. Another offering, IHRSA's I Lost it at the Club, provides clubs with an 8-week turnkey program for responsible weight loss.

For more information on IHRSA's effort to support the operation of health clubs as vital community resources, please check out our Vision for a Healthier, More Prosperous America, and let us know what you think.

What are other organizations doing to create community champions?

Lifestyle experts often suggest that a healthy and active lifestyle does not require a health club membership. They are absolutely correct. There are countless ways to stay active without ever seeing the inside of a health club.

But the existence of widespread options should not undercut the intrinsic value of belonging to a health club. For many folks, it is the best - and sometimes only - practical option. For others, it is a wonderful complement to their other physical activities.

Certainly, a health club membership is not right for everyone, and the industry must continue to improve its outreach to folks who may be intimidated or feel unwelcome at a club. It's also critical for lifestyle experts to stress the importance of every individual finding activities that will lead to sustainable healthy habits. But I think that health clubs may be a better option than many folks realize.

So, here is my case - in a nutshell - for making a health club membership a key component of a healthy lifestyle:

Safe Location

Location is often a major barrier to physical activity. A lack of sidewalks, poorly lit streets, and a fear of crime are all common factors leading to decreased physical activity. A health club offers the opportunity to exercise safely in a well-lit and monitored public space, usually regardless of the time of day.

Safe Environment

The risk of injury is inherent to physical activity. Health clubs provide resources for ensuring safe exercise, including the broad availability of fitness professionals to answer specific questions. Furthermore, an injured health club patron is likely to receive timely care from club employees and/or emergency medical personnel.

Affordable

Health clubs can be pricey, no doubt. But there are also inexpensive options that offer all the basic benefits of a health club. When compared with the monthly cost of cable TV, cell phone service, or even coffee, a health club membership can be a very accessible option.

Variety

For many people, pursuing a variety of physical activities is key to keeping up the habit. Other folks want fun activities or high-energy classes. Most health clubs offer ample opportunities to find activities that match members' preferences.

Friends Don't Let Friends Be Sedentary

Behavioral research tells us that our lifestyle habits are highly influenced by our social networks. An individual plugged into an active social network is more likely to be active. When an individual joins a health club, the individual is increasing the number of likely social contacts with active people, which may increase the likelihood of the individual sustaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

Surely, health clubs must continue to evolve and find ways to connect with folks to create sustained healthy activity habits. At the same time, I think many folks would be surprised by the welcoming and accommodating nature of their local health clubs. What are some ways that health clubs could attract more folks to be physically active?