Studies Continue to Show the Mental and
Physical Benefits of Exercise and New Study Finds that Nearly
All (94 Percent) of American Teens Admit They Struggle
Emotionally and Mentally
HAMPTON,
N.H., May 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet
Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and
operators of fitness centers with more members than any other
fitness brand, announces the return of its High School Summer Pass™ program, inviting high school teens
ages 14 – 191 to work out for free at any of its 2,500+
Planet Fitness locations across the U.S. and Canada this summer, between June 1 and August 31. Starting today,
teens can visit PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass to register for the
program before gaining club access starting Saturday, June 1. Teens under the age of 18 in
the U.S. and 19 years old in Canada must register with a parent or guardian
online or in-club. Since the High School Summer Pass program began, Planet Fitness has
invested more than $200 million in
waived membership dues to promote youth health and wellness and
improve the physical and mental health of millions of teens
2.
ACCESS TO EXERCISE IS EVERYTHING
The High School Summer Pass
program kicks off during Mental Health Awareness Month (May) to
help teens prioritize their physical and mental health during a
critical time of year when school is out and important academic or
extracurricular activities are on pause. In fact, the American
Heart Association3 has found that only 25 percent of
teens complete the recommended one hour of physical activity per
day – and screen time is partially to blame. Research also shows
that 9 out of 10 teens agree physical activity improves their
overall mental health,4 and a recent Journal of the
American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics study4
determined physical fitness among children and adolescents may
protect against developing depression, anxiety and attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder; afflictions that have direct
correlations to the impacts of the COVID pandemic.
"As the leader in fitness with locations throughout the U.S. and
Canada, Planet Fitness is proud to
continue to invest in today's youth by providing free access to
fitness during a critical time in their lives," said Craig Benson, Interim Chief Executive Officer at
Planet Fitness. "Many teens continue to be impacted by the
long-term mental health impacts from the pandemic, yet studies show
that exercise can have a significant, positive impact on teens'
overall wellness. We look forward to welcoming High School
Summer Pass participants into our
clubs to support them in their health and wellness journeys."
FITNESS PROVIDES FREEDOM FROM MENTAL HEALTH OBSTACLES
To understand what is top-of-mind among teens today and better
support them over the summer, Planet Fitness commissioned a
national study,5 which found the following:
- Mental Health Is a Source of Worry. 94 percent of teens
face emotional and mental health struggles and about four in five
(79 percent) of parents have concerns about their teen's mental
health. Luckily, 63 percent of teens have found that they feel
better about themselves when they exercise, with more than half (53
percent) experiencing a mood boost and feeling more
accomplished.
- Internal Struggles are Real. Three in four teens (72
percent) are self-conscious and confess they struggle with body
positivity issues (43 percent), something that's been consistent in
year's past.
- The Moment is Now. 85 percent of teens feel that there's
no better time than right now to concentrate on improving their
health.
- Limiting Screen Time. About seven in 10 (70 percent)
teens report that staying off social media and their phones (65
percent) helps them cope with the challenges they're facing.
- Strength Is in The Numbers. Nine in 10 (90 percent)
teens feel that exercising with a friend is beneficial to their
fitness journey – with others (81 percent) feeling that working out
with a parent or sibling, trainer (73 percent), being part of a
sports team (69 percent) and following fitness influencers (58
percent) inspires them to be more active.
All High School Summer Pass
participants will have access to free fitness training from in-club
certified fitness trainers6, free workouts designed
specifically for high schoolers in the free Planet Fitness App as
well as workout plans available at
PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass.
For more information on High School Summer Pass, including how to sign up for the
free membership at any of the more than 2,500 Planet Fitness
locations in the U.S. and Canada,
visit PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass.
About Planet Fitness
Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the
largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness
centers in the world by number of members and locations. As of
March 31, 2024, Planet Fitness had approximately 19.6 million
members and 2,599 stores in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto
Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia.
The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a
high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating
environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 90%
of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent
business men and women.
1 Teenagers ages 14 – 19 can visit any
Planet Fitness location in the United
States and Canada. Teens
must work out at the location they sign up at and are not permitted
to use other locations. Teens under 18 or the age of majority in
the applicable jurisdiction, must sign-up with a parent or guardian
in-club or online at PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass. Once the parent
or guardian waiver is signed for teens under 18 or the age of
majority in the applicable jurisdiction, teens can work out alone.
Students who are already 18 or the age of majority in the
applicable jurisdiction do not need a parent or guardian to be
present during the sign-up process.
2 7
million teen participants since 2019, $10 per month, three month
program
3 Most of the Nation's Teens
Aren't Getting Enough Exercise – United
States, April 2020 –
American Heart
Association.
4 Physical
Fitness and Risk of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents –
United States, April 2024 – JAMA
Pediatrics.
5 Online survey conducted
by Wired Research to 1,024 parents of teens ages 14-19 and their
respective teens, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1
percent.
6 Locations are independently owned
and operated; please check your local club for details.
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SOURCE Planet Fitness, Inc.