With gym classes and high school sports seasons winding down and schools preparing to close for the summer next month, Planet Fitness is making plans to keep teens active during the long break.
The gym chain offers a free summer membership at its facilities for students ages 14 to 19. Membership is valid from May 16 to August 31 and is part of the Planet Fitness High School Summer Ticket initiative. The company said the gym first offered free summer memberships to students in 2019 and more than 900,000 teens in the United States and Canada signed up that year.
There are 16 Planet Fitness gyms in Philadelphia, as well as dozens of locations in South Jersey and suburban Pennsylvania. You can search the gym’s website for the location closest to you.
Registration begins May 16 but students can pre-register on the company’s website for a reminder later this month. Teens under the age of 18 must register with a Planet Fitness site with a parent.
“We believe we have a responsibility to provide a welcoming, safe and judgment-free environment for high school students to improve their physical and mental health,” said Chris Rondo, CEO of the chain. “Especially given the challenges they face and continue to face in the wake of the pandemic.”
Research shows that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many teens are not getting the 60 minutes of daily exercise recommended by the US Department of Health and Social Services. One study found that of more than 5,000 participants, only 9% met physical activity guidelines — down from 16.1% before the public health crisis began.
Black and Latino teens from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were less likely to meet the guidelines, averaging only two hours of exercise per week.
Researchers note that teens who exercise for at least 60 minutes a day have better mental health than those who don’t, and this may be among the contributing factors to the deteriorating mental health of teens during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A University of Michigan survey found that one in 34 fathers of teenage girls and one in five fathers of teens noticed new or worsening anxiety in their children during the pandemic.
Research also shows the physical health benefits that exercise can bring to teens. Regular exercise helps them recover better from illnesses, accidents or disabilities, increases their strength and endurance, and lowers their risk of chronic disease.
The amount and quality of sleep that teens get also improves with regular exercise. A study found that when teens did more physical activity than usual, they fell asleep earlier, slept longer, and slept better.
Improved physical and mental health, along with better sleep habits, helps teens get better grades. CDC researchers have found that exercise can improve overall academic achievement. Cognitive skills got a boost too, which could lead to better focus, attention, and class behaviour.
Those who have registered for the program will be automatically entered into the summer high school ticket sweepstakes. At the end of the summer, Planet Fitness will award one teen the grand prize which is a $5,000 scholarship and one in each state a $500 scholarship.
