HealthSouth and GNC Enter New Partnership

Pittsburgh, PA ( October 1, 2001) - Two of the global leaders in the fields of healthcare and nutrition are joining forces to develop and market a line of health-specific, nutritional supplement products.

HealthSouth Corporation (NYSE: HRC), the nation’s leading provider of outpatient surgery, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitative healthcare services, has entered into an exclusive agreement with General Nutrition Centers, the nation’s largest specialty retailer of nutritional supplements, to bring a highly specialized brand of healthcare supplements and nutritional products to HealthSouth’s network of more than 1,900 healthcare facilities, as well as GNC’s 4,500+ retail locations. This strategic partnership combines the strength of one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers with the nation’s leading supplier of nutritional supplements.

"There is a critical need to provide both physicians, patients and consumers with important information about the role that specific dietary supplements can play in maintaining one’s health," said Richard M. Scrushy, HealthSouth’s Chairman and CEO. "The combination of HealthSouth’s resources, network and patient relationships, along with GNC’s industry-leading manufacturing and distribution capabilities, allows us an ideal way to reach people with this information and these important supplemental products."

Under the agreement, HealthSouth and GNC will develop the new proprietary formulations that are appropriate for patients undergoing rehabilitation in HealthSouth’s network of rehabilitation facilities. This alliance allows GNC to support and educate the medical community on the role specific dietary supplements can play in maintaining long term health. The science-based dietary supplements will be distributed exclusively by GNC at its more than 4,500 retail stores.

"We are thrilled at the opportunity to work with the healthcare industry’s number one sports rehabilitation provider," said Greg Horn, CEO of GNC. "As the largest retailer of nutritional supplements, GNC’s exciting new union with HealthSouth is a natural fit for both organizations and expands the market reach of some of the most nutritionally sound, scientifically based supplement products available."

In addition, GNC is also the exclusive distributor of HealthSouth’s new line of children’s supplements, including the "Go For It!" chewable multi-vitamin and nutritional bars scientifically designed to help meet children’s specific dietary needs. The products are an extension of HealthSouth’s "Go For It!" "edutainment" brand that brings healthy lifestyle education to kids via its multiple entertainment programs including a live touring Roadshow, a television series, and a "Go For It!" website (www.goforit.net). GNC is featured as a presenting sponsor of the "Go For It!" entertainment platforms, including the television series. GNC will be promoted within the television series via several promotional spot advertisements featuring the children’s nutritional line, as well as via an interactive game within the body of the show that teaches kids about health and nutrition. This reality-game show style series airs Saturday mornings at 8:30AM EST/PST, 7:30AM CST/CMT on USA Network (not part of USA’s regular programming block) and is designed to reinforce positive lifestyle messages such as the importance of staying in school, being physically fit and eating right.

"GNC’s mission is to help people live their best lives, including kids," Horn said. "This show is a powerful tool in educating our youth about the importance of health and nutrition, and GNC is proud to be associated with it. We’re also reaching out to our youngest consumers with supplements and nutritional products that are designed to meet their individual needs."

About "GO FOR IT! The Real Challenge"

The television show, which features superstar athletes such as Dan Marino, Mia Hamm, Troy Aikman, six-time Ms. Olympia Cory Everson, and Herschel Walker, stems from HealthSouth’s successful "Go For It!" Roadshow. It partners with school systems across the country to provide an interactive and educational field trip for students in grades 3 through 8. Kids and teachers alike participate in each interactive segment of the show, including trivia questions and games. To date, more than 3 million students have participated in the Roadshow in nearly100 cities across the U.S.

About HEALTHSOUTH

HealthSouth Corporation is the nation’s largest provider of ambulatory surgery, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitative healthcare services, with more than 1,900 facilities in all 50 states, the United Kingdom, Australia, Puerto Rico and Canada. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at www.healthsouth.com.

About General Nutrition Centers

General Nutrition Companies, Inc. (www.gnc.com), based in Pittsburgh, PA, is the largest nationwide specialty retailer of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements, sports nutrition as well as many personal care and related products. GNC operates more than 4,500 retail outlets throughout the United States and 26 foreign markets including Canada and Mexico. GNC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Numico NV, a worldwide market leader in specialized nutrition that includes infant and clinical nutrition and nutritional supplements. Headquartered in Zoetemeer, The Netherlands, Royal Numico’s operations include manufacturing facilities in more that 50 countries and research facilities in the Netherlands, Germany, the U.K. and Australia. In additional to GNC, Royal Numico’s family of companies includes Rexal Sundown, Inc., a major supplier to the mass market based in Boca Raton, FL, sports nutrition leaders MET-Rx and Worldwide Sport Nutrition and the multi-level marketing operation of Unicity Network (encompassing the multi-level operations and products of Enrich International and Rexall Showcase International).