Fitness Industry Roundup: Physical Activity Reduces Annual Deaths

In any given year, trends for every industry are abundant in quarter one. As you may have noticed from our latest roundups, this year is no different. ACSM (the American College of Sports Medicine) recently released the top 20 trends for 2022, and there may be some that surprise you. After you check out what’s trendy, we’ve got two stories about how small business owners are making an impact in their community and family.

To start off, there’s nothing better than some good old science and data to prove a point. So, to start your weekend on a good note, here’s another study that promotes the benefits of exercise.

Study: Physical Activity Can Prevent 100,000+ Deaths Annually

A cohort study found that increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity intensity (MVPA) by just 10 minutes per day can prevent an estimated 111,174 deaths per year, a 6.9% decrease. The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine and followed more than 4,800 participants—aged 40 to 85+ years—over 10 years. Greater benefits come with the addition of more MVPA—an estimated 209,459 preventable deaths for 20 minutes and 272,297 preventable deaths for 30 minutes. Study Author Pedro F. Saint-Maurice, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in the division of cancer epidemiology and genetics at the National Cancer Institute, noted, “These findings support implementing evidence-based strategies to improve physical activity for adults and potentially reduce deaths in the U.S.”

Find out more.

ACSM Reveals Top 20 Fitness Trends for 2022

For more than a decade, the 2022 Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends results have been included in the ACSM Health & Fitness Journal. ACSM received responses from over 4,500 survey participants. The findings conclude that the top 5 fitness trends of 2022 are:

1. Wearable technology

2. Home exercise gyms

3. Outdoor activities

4. Strength training with free weights

5. Exercise for weight loss

The report includes 15 more trends. The authors noted, “The survey was designed to help and support the health and fitness industry when making critical programming and business decisions to capture additional business into the future, and maybe even to stay in business after a turbulent two years.”

Check out more findings.

Personal Trainer Focuses on ‘Getting Your Mental Health Right’

Business is booming for Lydia Cowan, personal trainer and owner of 1st Fit Fitness. Cowan told the Northumberland Gazette, "I think with everything that's gone on and with people being at high-risk of COVID, people are starting to think 'actually, I need to start looking after myself a little bit more.’” Although the fitness industry has been especially hard-hit, Cowan followed her passion and started her business during the pandemic with a goal to help her clients improve their mood and self-esteem after enduring difficult lockdowns and social distancing rules. She added, "Sometimes it's not about trying to get into shape or trying to lose weight, it's about getting your mental health right."

Read the full article.

Bodybuilding Helps Hawaii Teen Get Through the Pandemic & Find Passion

“People argue back and forth about what to do and how to protect themselves,” said Heather Rosario, owner of Transformations Personal Training Studio in Hilo, HI. “But honestly, your health is the longest lasting, most in-depth comprehensive thing you can do to keep yourself healthy this season and in the long run.” After noticing that her well-being declined from the pandemic and remote learning, Heather’s daughter Naomi, a senior at Waiakea High, decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and join a weight training program. According to Hawaii News Now, Naomi has lost 30 pounds, gained muscle, and competed in four national competitions with no reason to stop. She said, “The first time when I hit the stage in Las Vegas competing against the other competitors, it felt really good to win that competition, so I wanted to continue it.” Naomi plans to create fitness programs for other teens after she graduates in May.

Read more.

Has your health or fitness-related business been featured in the news recently? We want to know! Send a link to any news article or video that highlighted your business to pr@ihrsa.org, and we may include it in a future issue of the Fitness Industry Roundup.