4) An increase in health club popularity--Health club memberships rose from million in 1987 to million in 1997--a 63% gain.

5) Increased usage of home equipment--The Fitness Products Council found exercise equipment is owned and used in nearly one-third of American households.

6) Enduring commitment--Baby boomers, the creators of the fitness movement, have not surrendered to middle age and settled into a sedentary life. Instead, they remain committed to working out.

7) An evolution in exercise forms--New devices and routines have emerged to motivate and attract exercisers. Not only has new equipment such as stair climbers, abdominal trainers and elliptical motion machines been introduced to the gym, but step aerobics now shares the floor with yoga, ethnic-inspired dance movements, cycling, free weights and treadmills.

8) More personal trainers--Personal trainers who were once only employed by movie stars and sports heroes are now accessible to almost anyone. In 1993, the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America held 96 certification workshops for personal trainers. In 1998, the number of workshops will be nearly 300.

Seven-year-old Maria Sweet, a four-year aerobics veteran, took first place at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics in Virginia last August, competing against nine to eleven-year-olds in the youngest category available.

Make a Move

Longevity has more to do with one's level of physical activity than genetics, according to a study published in the February Journal of the American Medical Association.

In a 19-year study tracking the health and lifestyles of twins, it was found the risk of death was 56% lower for those who exercised at least 30 minutes, six or more times per month, and 34% lower for occasional exercisers.

The study shows heredity is not necessarily destiny. "It is an exciting study because it shows we are not at the mercy of our genes," says James Sallis, . "We make important choices daily that affect our health. One of the best choices is to be active for 30 minutes a day."

investigating creatine

The jury is still out on the performance enhancer creatine. While tests show creatine may increase strength and endurance, other effects on the body remain unknown. "Questions about creatine have been surfacing lately, especially with high school and college athletes taking supplements," says University of Memphis researcher Richard B. Kreider, .

Kreider led a 28-day study of 25 NCAA Division I football players who were randomly assigned to placebo or creatine treatment groups. The test participants who took creatine gained significantly in their fat/bone-free mass, isotonic lifting volume and sprint performance. They weighed more, found themselves able to move greater weight volume, and cycled faster for short periods of time.

However, little was learned regarding the medical safety of short-term or long-term creatine supplementation. Because more research is needed, caution should be taken by sports nutrition enthusiasts. Check with a medical professional before self-prescribing creatine or other similar strength builders.

The study led by Kreider was published in the January, 1998, issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. For more information, call (800) 638-6423.

Stretcht to Your Health's Content CyberStretch[R], a new screensaver designed to reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries, has been developed by Jazzercise[R] and is being offered by Barney & Barney at potentially no cost to employers.

The screensaver provides energizing stretch breaks in an interactive format designed to reduce muscle tension, stress and the risk of repetitive stress injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, repetitive motion injury (RMI) trauma cases have increased from 23,800 in 1972 to over 332,000 in 1994 and account for 60% of all occupational illness, costing $20 billion dollars annually in workers compensation claims.

Barney & Barney aims to cut down on employee absenteeism, reduce injury claims and increase productivity and comfort. They also hope to save businesses money on insurance costs. "We want to change the way employers look at safety and productivity," says Dennis Pearce, operations manager for Barney & Barney. "For people busily working on a computer all day, it's a perfect aid to remind them to do some stretching and guide them through a refreshing break."

For more information, visit .com or call 1-888-79-STRETCH.

Get a Lifepak

Rock Athletic Club in Arkansas last March, Jim Drost had just finished a noon-hour basketball game when he lost consciousness due to a heart attack. Fortunately, the club owned Lifepak 500 AED, a portable defibrillation device that shocks the heart back to normal rhythm.

In the American Heart Association's chain of survival model, early defibrillation is part of a potentially lifesaving strategy more clubs are looking into. Other precautions include early access to emergency medical services through an emergency dispatch system, early CPR and advanced cardiac life support by trained medical personnel.

For more information about the Lifepak 500 AED, visit the Web site of Physio-Control International Corporation, a pioneer in portable defibrillation, at .com.