Evaluating a Health Wellness or Fitness Club

PURPOSE

The purpose of this lab is to practice evaluating a "health" club. (Various combinations of the words health, wellness, and fitness are often used for these clubs.)

PROCEDURE

1. Visit a club and pretend to be interested in becoming a member. (Note: Only one or two class members should do to each club to avoid suspicion.)
2. Listen carefully to all that is said and ask lots of questions (without exposing your real motives).
3. Look carefully all around you as you are given the tour of the facilities; ask what the exercises or the equip-ment does for you or ask leading questions such as, "Will this take inches off my hips?", etc.
4. As soon as you leave the club, jot some notes before you forget what you heard and saw or complete this report immediately. Do not take notes while you are in the club. Space is provided for notes in the Health Club Evaluation Chart (Chart 22.2B).

1. Were claims for improvement in weight, figure/physique, or fitness realistic?
2. Was a long-term contract (1-3 years) encouraged?
3. Was the sales pitch high-pressure to make an immediate decision?
4. Were you given a copy of the contract to read at home?
5. Did the fine print include objectionable clauses?
6. Did they recommend a physician's approval prior to joining?
7. Did they sell diet supplements as a side line?
8. Did they have passive equipment?
9. Did they have cardiovascular training equipment or facilities (cycles, track, pool aerobic dance)?
10. Did they make unscientific claims for the equipment exercise, baths, or diet supplements?
11. Were the facilities clean?
12. Were the facilities crowded?
13. Were there days and hours when facilities were open but would not be available to you?
14. Were there limits on the number of minutes you could use a piece of equipment?
15. Did the floor personnel closely supervise and assistclients?
16. Were the floor personnel qualified "experts?"
17. Were the managers/owners qualified "experts?"
18. Has the club been in business at this location for a year or more?

RESULTS

1. Check the evaluation list on Chart 22.2b by checking the "yes" or "no" answers, and add any special notes opposite each item.
2. Score the chart as follows:
   1. Give one point for each "no" answer for items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 13, and 14, and place the score in the blank.
   2. Give one point for each "yes" answer for items 6, 9, 11, 12, and 17, and place the score in the blank.
   3. Give one point for each "yes" answer on 14, 15, and 16, and place the score in the blank.
3. A total score of 12-15 points on items A and B suggests the club rates at least "fair" compared to other clubs.
4. A score of 3 on item C indicates that the personnel are qualified and suggests that you could expect to get accurate technical advice from the staff.
5. Regardless of the total scores, you would have to decide the importance of each item in Chart 22.2b to you personally, as well as evaluate other considerations such as cost, location, personalities of the clients and the personnel, and so on, to decide if this would be a good place for you or your friends to join.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

In the space below, use several sentences to discuss your conclusion about the quality of this club and whether you think it would fit your needs if you wanted to belong.