Childrens Gym Operations
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Fit N’ Fun
New Service proposal
Develop a proposal for a new health-related service within an existing firm / organisation:
What is the drive behind the decision to provide this service?
Globalization and standardization – opportunity and growth in franchising,
Demographic changes
—Increase in obesity in the population
Purpose and background information
Child Obesity and child diabetes in Ireland,
Obesity has developed into a major public health problem worldwide in recent years. In 2000, research showed that more than 300 million people worldwide were obese and the World Health Organisation has defined the disease as a “global epidemic”.
One-in-eight Irish people are classified obese and every second person is considered overweight. The results from a Survey of Lifestyle, Attitude and Nutrition (SLāN) show that Irish people are becoming progressively heavier — this is evident in the 30% increase in reported obesity levels over a four-year period.
Each year, roughly 2,000 premature deaths are attributed to obesity. In economic terms, this results in an estimated cost of €4bn to the State. Figures show that more than 300,000 children on the island of Ireland are now either overweight and/or obese and projections indicate that this figure will continue to increase by 10,000 annually.
In basic terms, obesity occurs when a person takes in more energy from the food and drink they consume than the energy they use from physical activity. This results in an energy imbalance.
Obesity incurs costs to society
Firstly there economic cost, obesity accounts for up to 6% of Irelands total health care costs. It is also worth noting the indirect cost of obesity; these include the decrease of productivity due to illness and premature mortality and the intangible costs such as impaired quality of life.
The main facts of obesity in Ireland:
Obesity is in increasing by 1% every year in Ireland.
In Ireland, 47% of people are overweight (with 13% obese).
In the EU, Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of overweight and obese men and the seventh highest prevalence in women.
Prevalence of adult obesity in Europe.
Obesity in children:
The percentage of obesity in Irish teenage girls is higher than the international average.
300,000 children in this country are overweight and/or obese.
School children’s diets often have a high fat content – a significant proportion of this comes from high fat, energy dense snacks.
Less than half of teenagers aged 15-17 years take part in regular physical activity
Excessive television viewing and computer use is a contributor to obesity in children.
Food advertising, which is directly targeted at children often, encourages the consumption of high calorie food and drink.
So why fitness centres for children so important?
Childhood obesity is at a frightening level worldwide.
A survey done by the Irish Oral Health Research Centre found that that at least 5% of children aged 4-16 years were obese.
Results from the National Children’s Food survey showed that 11% of boys and 12% of girls aged 5-12 years are overweight and 9% of boys and 13% of girls are obese. Between 1995 and 2005 obesity increased in boys aged 8-12 years from 6%-8% and in girls from 5%-14%. These figures clearly reflect that obesity in children is on the rise in Ireland.
Childhood obesity has serious implications for both the individual and society.
Obesity can affect the emotional well being of a child and their level of self-esteem.
Obese children are more likely to become obese adults and have children who will become obese.
Introduction.
The service I have decided to propose in the health related industry is a children’s fitness centre. I wish to incorporate this service into the Alsaa sports club at the Dublin airport. The main reason for my decision is the growing news and speculation about children’s health and childhood obesity that is getting more and more serious as seen above. Studies show that regular exercise and activity is an essential development component for healthy children. Fit N Fun will be a play and movement service that will be designed specifically for children of all ages. At Fit N Fun concentration will be on non-competitive programmes designed to help children grow physically and while building their self esteem and confidence and most importantly they have fun. Children will thrive with the carefully designed programmes that will show age appropriate classes camps and birthday parties; the programming in gym design is contemporary and fresh keeping things new and exciting. The child to instructor ratio will be an impressive 5:1. And the state of the art facilities and equipment will be second to none where kids will have fun while they are learning.
Fit N Fun creates facilities; programs and services that empower youngsters by helping them acquire the skills, confidence and positive self-image needed to become healthy young adults. Fit N Fun will be devised to cater for children six weeks to thirteen years of age.
The structured, age-appropriate weekly classes will incorporate music, dance, relays, games, special rides, gymnastics, sports and other original activities.