DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., April 21, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- With the recent launch of its Aevum HealthSource network, a division of iBX Group, Inc. (OTCBB:IBXG), it has become positioned for major growth within the $17 billion anti-aging industry. The network will enable board-certified physicians to provide patients with age-management and life-enhancement protocols and treatments, and will be headquartered at Florida HealthSource's flagship physical therapy and rehabilitation center in Boca Raton, Fla.
According to industry publications, demand for anti-aging products in the United States is projected to grow 11.1 percent annually through 2007 and will be propelled by a stream of newly developed products that offer health and appearance-enhancing benefits.
"With the number of older Americans increasing at an unprecedented rate, especially here in South Florida, age-management services are in high demand," said Barry Dorfman, Managing Director for Aevum HealthSource. "Our approach to age management offers patients the added credibility and expertise of a board-certified physician, who will work with the patient to develop an individualized wellness program utilizing the most appropriate combination of traditional and alternative therapies."
Age management is defined as preventive medicine focused on helping patients regain and maintain optimal health and vigor. Through the use of medical technologies that combine traditional treatment such as prescription medications and hormonal supplementation with therapies such as dietary supplements, exercise, acupuncture and relaxation techniques, patients are able to improve their quality of life, increase energy levels, reduce body fat, increase lean muscle, improve cognitive function, lower cholesterol, enhance mood, improve their ability to handle stress and strengthen their immune system.
Currently, about 36 million Americans are older than 65, and that number is expected to double by 2030. With the first wave of baby boomers set to turn 65 in 2007, researchers are focusing on finding ways to help this generation maintain their health and avoid further strains on the already-overburdened healthcare industry.
"Probably for the first time in history, people are expecting to live well beyond retirement, and they don't want to spend their remaining years in poor health," Dorfman said. "People are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve wellness, whether it means embracing treatments new to the United States -- but that have long been accepted in other parts of the world -- or paying out of pocket for recently developed therapies."
After age 30, most adults become deficient in several hormones, contributing to a decline in energy levels and muscle and bone strength. Other conditions associated with aging include decreased sensory, cognitive, motor and pulmonary functions; loss of skin elasticity; increased fat-to-lean muscle ratio; onset of osteoporosis; and lessening of libido and sexual response. After appropriate testing, age-management specialists can develop a program to treat any existing diseases, supplement depleted hormones and enhance nutrition to help patients achieve an optimum level of health.
Based in Deerfield Beach, Florida, iBX Group Inc. develops and deploys creative, cost-effective methods for integrating financial, administrative and information services for the healthcare industry. iBX is a results-oriented company, consisting of five divisions -- iBX Technologies, which enables healthcare organizations to maximize collections of their accounts receivables; Florida HealthSource, a network of physical therapy and wellness centers; MediCompliant Solutions, which ensures medical practices' compliance with today's complex legal requirements; iBX Transcription Services, which offers physicians quick turn-around and Web-accessible progress reports; and NursesSTAT, a revolutionary temporary staffing solution. The company also owns SportshealthNet.com and TheNetDigest.com, interactive Web portals providing patients with comprehensive healthcare information and advice, and increasing physician referrals.