No Summer Slowdown

Now that we’re weeks beyond the HFA Fly-In and Advocacy Summit that occurred last month, we’re hard at work implementing new initiatives, some of which we announced at the event in Washington, DC. The Fly-In was a tremendous success, with 130 attendees (the maximum we could accommodate), who split into groups to attend a total of 92 meetings with policymakers from both parties.

Representatives and their staffs were open to our message, and I want to thank them for meeting with us. I also want to thank our sponsors, and, of course, all the industry leaders who took the time to travel to Washington, DC, to promote our mission to prevent chronic disease, reduce healthcare costs, and support military readiness through access to physical activity.

During the Fly-In, HFA Vice President of Research Anton Severin presented the results of a survey by The Harris Poll commissioned by HFA to gauge the reputation of the health and fitness industry among the public and policymakers in the United States. The survey found that 88% of policymakers and 76% of the American public expressed a favorable personal opinion of the fitness industry. Also, policymakers ranked the fitness industry first in overall reputation among the 14 industries listed in the survey. This favorable opinion is bipartisan, as Democrats and Republicans were nearly equal in their positive assessments of the industry.

However, we still have work to do in raising our reputational equity with the public, as 63% said the industry makes it too difficult to cancel or change memberships, while 65% said our industry needs to be better regulated. We need to meet these challenges head-on by establishing policies that will close this trust gap with the public.

Whether or not you were able to attend the Fly-In, you can make your voice heard in your local community. We have created a template for an op-ed that you can share with media outlets in your region. Simply download the template and add the necessary details.

A Global Village

The HFA initiatives discussed at the Fly-In are replicable on a global basis, with adjustments for different political and healthcare systems. Even our Service Ready initiative, where HFA member facilities will provide Americans heading to basic training with no-cost fitness access and training support, can be adapted by other countries where fighting forces are facing similar challenges.

This summer, I am on the road to attend HFA-affiliated events in Asia. First up was SPORTEC Japan 2026 in Tokyo on July 8-10, followed by the 2026 ChinaFit/HFA Management Forum in Beijing on July 12-13. These events provide an opportunity to talk about the HFA GLP-1 white paper that was produced with many of our international federation partners. GLP-1 therapy is a global concern, and we’re here to support our partners in establishing physical activity as a critical part of GLP-1 treatments around the world.

Our international travels continue in August at the Fitness Brasil Expo 2026 in São Paulo on August 28-30, leading to our own event, the 2026 HFA European Congress, September 24-26 in London. Registration is open for the Congress, and our schedule is set for the event.

As I mentioned last month, our theme for the Congress is One Vision. One Voice. We truly live in a global village, and our international members are vital to the overall success of the HFA mission.

Pakistan-native Ahmar Azam, CEO of TriFit and member of the HFA board, once said in an issue of HFB: “The world is truly flat. Whether you are a kid growing up in Riyadh, Karachi, or New York, you have access to the same music, lifestyle trends, and content, follow the same influencers, etc. Their exposure to healthy lifestyle and trends from the internet helps us penetrate faster.”

As I’ve seen over the years, our members are bound by more than geography—they share a conviction that physical activity is fundamental to a healthier, stronger world. That conviction will be on full display as our travels continue this summer and into the fall. I look forward to updating you along the way, and I hope to see many of you in London this September.