http://news.yahoo.com/los-angeles-fitness-expo-appeals-families-bodybuilders-181300493.htmlBy Steven Bryan | Yahoo! Contributor Network – 12 hrs ago
According to Time magazine, one of the most commonly broken New Year's resolutions is losing weight and getting fit. To help people stay on track, the Los Angeles Fitness Expo is scheduled to be held Jan. 28-29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
When reached by telephone, Erin Ferries, executive director of the Los Angeles Fitness Expo, talked about what people can expect to see in this, the ninth year for the event.
Q: Is the Los Angeles Fitness Expo designed primarily for the serious bodybuilder or weightlifter?
A: There's something for everybody and it really is fun for the whole family. We attract as many families as we do health and fitness enthusiasts -- all the strongmen and powerlifters, the people who are in shape and the people who are looking to get into shape.
They [visitors] can expect to see over 300 exhibits from all the top brand name companies and products and services from the health and fitness service and field. It's a real overload of information and events and products and services.
Q: The Centers for Disease Control reports that childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years. Does the expo have events or exhibits designed to help children get fit and stay in shape?
A: Each year, we have tried to expand and grow that element of our event, including actual events that people can come and watch or participate in. And we continue to expand-this year, we went back into some educational seminars and programming. There are different classes and seminars being offered throughout the weekend that touch on a variety of different subject matters, including childhood obesity and just better nutrition.
I also think it is exciting for kids to come out and watch something like the Gracie Kids World Championships and watch kids compete and be athletic. I think it is an inspiration, definitely, and the feedback has been really positive over the years as we have expanded the youth element of our event
Q: People who want to get fit may not enjoy working out alone at a gym. Does the expo have information about working out at home?
A: We definitely appeal to the home equipment market and we have had them [companies] participate over the years. I know there will be some equipment available at the event. It may not be full-out gym components, but there are products and services that people may be trying to incorporate into a physical fitness regimen.
This year we also added a new element called the "Evolution Fitness Conference," which is about group exercise and showcasing the newest trends in group exercise and allowing people to come and experience some of those classes first-hand on the expo floor.
Q: Can visitors also expect to see exhibits with new exercise products and techniques?
We have had a lot of companies come to the expo over the years to present new products and services that they are just trying to get out there. We have a really positive response from companies who are looking for that opportunity.
It [the expo] really does appeal to all different phases of being fit or getting fit or being more fit. The feedback we get from our exhibitors-the ones that come back every year-at the Los Angeles Fitness Expo is that they get to really interact with an interested consumer base that wants to get as much information as they can.
