Singapore (PRWEB)
October 15, 2019

The Global Wellness Institute™ (GWI), a nonprofit research and educational resource for the world wellness industry, today released its major research report for 2019: “Move to be Well: The Global Economy of Physical Activity.” In 2018, the GWI found that the fitness/mind-body market was worth $595 billion, and this new research broadens the scope of that segment to the “physical activity economy,” which is now valued at $828.2 billion globally, and includes the sports and active recreation, fitness, and mindful movement core segments—along with the supporting markets of equipment and supplies, apparel and footwear, and technology.

With this new data, wellness jumps to a $4.5 trillion global market.

ACCESS THE FULL REPORT HERE

In GWI’s decade of wellness industry research, this is the most data-packed study to date: The 180-page report goes in-depth on the consumer spend within all six markets (at global, regional and national levels); participation rates for 150 nations; the big emerging trends and business opportunities across countries; and market growth projections—while providing deep insight into public and private sector initiatives that can help bring more movement to all.

“This new global data stream is meant to encourage business leaders and policymakers to see physical activity as a comprehensive sector, and one that’s critical in supporting lifestyles that are crucial to good health,” noted Ophelia Yeung, GWI senior researcher and report co-author. “Yes, physical activity has become a massive $828 billion commercial segment, but the conundrum is that sedentary lives, obesity and chronic disease are all exploding right alongside the fitness market’s explosive growth.”

Katherine Johnston, GWI senior researcher and co-author, added: “When people think ‘fitness industry’ they think gyms, boutique studios, yoga and fit-tech like wearables, but there are so many ways we can get enough exercise to stay healthy—from playing sports to dancing to biking to work. And there are huge opportunities for businesses to get more people active—beyond affluent urbanites/suburbanites, the young and the already-healthy.”

Recreational Physical Activity Markets

Sports & Active Recreation: $230.1 billion

Fitness & Gym: $108.6 billion

Mindful Movement: $29.1 billion

Total: $367.7 billion (44% of market)

Supporting Segments

Apparel & Footwear: $333 billion

Equipment & Supplies: $109 billion

Technology: $26 billion

Total: $465.9 billion (56% of market)

This data represents the direct consumer spend for each category and doesn’t include the vast expenditures made by governments/the public sector. GWI estimates that just 35 percent of the world population regularly participates in recreational physical activities.

The Regional Picture: Market Size & Spend/Participant

North America: $282.7 billion – $1,345

Asia-Pacific: $240.4 billion – $176

Europe: $225 billion – $528

Latin-America/Caribbean: $42.2 billion – $176

Middle East-N. Africa: $22.6 billion – $181

Sub-Saharan Africa: $15.3 billion – $45

Ninety percent of the world’s spending on recreational physical activities takes place in North America, Asia and Europe. Globally, spending averages $306 per participant per year: $136 on activities and $172 on equipment, apparel/footwear and technology. That number may seem low, but this study captures a much broader range of physical activities than the $200/month elite gym membership or $35 spinning class out of reach for most of the world. Per participant expenditures are very high in North America ($1,345) and Europe ($528) while significantly lower in the rest of the world.

Top 10 Recreational Physical Activity Markets

US: $264.6 billion

China: $109.3 billion

Japan: $43.9 billion

UK: $40.9 billion

Germany: $39.4 billion

France: $26.3 billion

South Korea: $23.5 billion

Italy: $19.3 billion

Canada: $18.1 billion

Australia: $16.7 billion

The US and China are by far the world’s largest national consumer markets for recreational physical activity, together accounting for 45 percent of global expenditures.

Highest Recreational Physical Activity Participation Rates = Happiest Nations

Market size and the highest rates of recreational physical activity participation don’t often correlate, and the report looks at what percentage of the population of 150 nations regularly take part in sports and active recreation, fitness or mindful movement. Australia and Taiwan lead the world with 84 percent recreational physical activity participation rates. And when you compare the happiest nations from the 2019 World Happiness Report to the countries with the highest rates for recreational physical activity, there is very striking overlap: Fourteen nations make both top-20 lists, with Nordic countries such as Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Denmark all ranking in the top 10 for “happiest” and most physically active. The movement and “mood” connection seems powerful.

I) RECREATIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MARKETS

1) Sports & Active Recreation: $230 Billion

The sports and active recreation category generates two-thirds of all recreational physical activity spending because these activities are the most diverse, accessible, affordable and prevalent across every region and population group. Thirty-three percent of the world’s population regularly engages in sports and active recreation, spending $90/annually on average. The top five markets for participation are 1) Taiwan 2) Norway 3) New Zealand 4) Australia, and 5) Iceland—all seeing 75 percent or higher participation rates.

2) Fitness: $108.6 Billion

The fitness industry is fast and furious in its growth and devising new approaches, whether indoor spinning, HIIT or CrossFit. The GWI estimates that 3.7 percent of the world’s population are members of gyms or fitness studios, take independent fitness classes regularly, or work out in public facilities or on their own, spending $384 per participant yearly. Within the wider fitness market, 190 million people spend money on memberships/training at commercial gyms and studios (258,000 locations across 211 countries), generating $83 billion in annual expenditures. Another 58 million participate in fitness classes at (26,000+) public and nonprofit venues that cost much less or nothing. Twenty-eight million people subscribe to on-demand and streaming fitness services online or via apps.

North America is the #1 fitness market ($40.5 billion and a 29 percent participation rate), followed by Europe ($33.8 billion market with a significantly lower participation rate of 9.2 percent).

3) Mindful Movement: $29 Billion

In our frenetically paced, stressful, sleepless and chronic-pain-plagued world, the demand for slower, mindful movement—which includes yoga, Pilates, tai chi, qigong, stretch, barre, Gyrotonic, etc.—is skyrocketing. Of the world’s population, 3.8 percent now regularly participates in mindful movement, spending on average $101/year. While the market is now concentrated in wealthier countries, practices are spreading fast throughout the world.

Global Participants & Market Size

Yoga: 165 million – $16.9 billion

Tai Chi & Qigong: 94.7 million – $5.4 billion

Pilates, Barre & other modalities: 28.9 million – $6.7 billion

The US is by far the largest mindful movement market in terms of participation rate (17.7 percent) and expenditures ($10.4 billion), followed by China ($5.8 billion), Japan ($1.9 billion), Russia ($1.3 billion) and Germany ($1.2 billion). Other countries with high participation rates include Australia, Canada, Denmark and New Zealand (all over 10 percent). (Note: The meditation market isn’t included in this study, as it’s not movement, but will be analyzed in a 2020 GWI study on the mental wellness sector.)

II) SUPPORTING SECTORS

Apparel & Footwear: $333 Billion

Within this market, $198.2 billion is spent on apparel and $134.6 billion on footwear. North America is by far the largest market, followed by Asia-Pacific and Europe: These regions make up 87 percent of the market, while the US comprises over one-third.

Equipment & Supplies: $109 Billion

For equipment and supplies related to physical activity (sporting goods and fitness training equipment), North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific make up 94 percent of all spending, and the US and China together comprise 44 percent of the market.

Fitness Tech: $26 Billion

Technologies that make exercise more fun, affordable, personalized, portable, social, gamified and trackable are seeing an extraordinary uptake by consumers all over the world—even in countries that haven’t had developed gym/fitness offerings. Wearables and trackers ($14.7 billion), streaming and on-demand fitness ($6.1 billion), and apps ($2.4 billion) are the three biggest fit-tech segments.

Asia-Pacific is the world’s #1 market ($10.8 billion) because all across the region, consumers are wild for the latest fitness tech, wearables and trackers. North America ranks second, at $8.6 billion. The US ($8.1 billion), China ($6.6 billion), and India ($1.8 billion) are the three national leaders, accounting for over half of the physical activity tech market.

The Future: $1.1 Trillion+ Market by 2023

The physical activity economy will grow 6.6 percent annually from 2018–2023, to surpass $1.1 trillion. Asia-Pacific will overtake North America as the largest market, accounting for 40 percent of all global growth through 2023. China and India together will drive nearly one-third of growth, while the US will account for one-quarter.

Growth 2018–2023 (US Billions) + (Annual Growth Rate)

Asia-Pacific: $240–$373.5 (9.2%)

North America: $283–$366 (5.3%)

Europe: $225–$288 (5.1%)

Latin America-Caribbean: $42–$57 (6%)

Middle East-N. Africa: $22.6–$33 (7.8%)

Sub-Saharan Africa: $15–$23 (8.2%)

WORLD TOTAL: $828 Billion–$1.14 Trillion (6.6%)

Mindful movement will be the fastest-growing sector (12.4 percent annually), jumping from a $29 billion market in 2018 to $52 billion by 2023. Technology will be the second-fastest-growing market (8.6 percent annually), expanding from $26.3 billion in 2018 to $39.8 billion by 2023.

About the Global Wellness Institute: The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a nonprofit 501(c)(3), is considered the leading global research and educational resource for the global wellness industry and is known for introducing major industry initiatives and regional events that bring together leaders to chart the future. GWI positively impacts global health and wellness by advocating for both public institutions and businesses that are working to help prevent disease, reduce stress, and enhance the overall quality of life. Its mission is to empower wellness worldwide.

DAVIE, Fla. (PRWEB)
October 15, 2019

CosMedical Technologies®, a leading dermatologist-founded global private label skincare provider, released today their Ultra Replenishing Sunscreen SPF 40, designed to shield skin from three major sources of environmental damage: UV light, blue light, and pollution.

Studies have shown that high energy visible (HEV) blue light and environmental pollution play a significant role in premature skin aging. According to recent findings, exposure to HEV light may cause even more short-term and long-term damage to the skin than ultraviolet light. Gina Stabile, CosMedical Technologies® Chief Executive Officer believes the time has come to rethink photoprotection.

“CosMedical is committed to offering medical-grade skincare solutions based on the very latest dermatological science, and the research is clear — in the fight against aging, UV protection just isn’t enough,” says Stabile. “We decided to create a sunscreen that goes beyond SPF.”

An update on the original Replenishing Sunscreen, the reformulated Ultra Replenishing Sunscreen SPF 40 now includes 8% zinc oxide, reef-safe UV-absorbers, and concentrated new actives to deliver enhanced photoprotection and anti-aging benefits. Chief among these is the strongest antioxidant on the market, Lipochroman®, with coverage against all three classes of free radicals. Withania somnifera extract, or White Cherry, offers natural protection against HEV light-related discoloration and dark spots. Firming peptides improve the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness.

Stabile states, “Light damage happens year-round, while pollutants and digitally-emitted blue light are practically everywhere, both indoors and out. Our new Ultra Replenishing keeps you protected through it all for visibly vibrant, younger-looking skin.”

Ultra Replenishing Sunscreen SPF 40 is available to existing customers through their designated CosMedical Technologies® account executive. New accounts may contact the CosMedical Technologies® sales team to place an order or make inquiries.

About CosMedical Technologies®: Founded in 1993 by board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD, CosMedical Technologies® provides custom label skin care to licensed professionals around the world. A forerunner in the private-label skincare industry, CosMedical Technologies® is known for staying ahead of emerging industry trends, offering a wide range of dermatologist-developed formulas created with advanced ingredients and innovative technology. Visit CosMedical Technologies® online at cosmedicaltechnologies.com for more information.

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LOMA LINDA, Calif. (PRWEB)
October 15, 2019

A study conducted by researchers in California and France has found that intakes of amino acids largely consisting of indispensable amino acids, such as those found in animal protein, are associated with a sharp increased risk of heart disease, while intakes rich in so-called non-indispensable amino acids, richer in plant protein, are beneficial for the human heart.

The study — which was recently published online by the International Journal of Epidemiology — found that people with a high intake of indispensable amino acids experienced a 60% increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD), while people who consumed large amounts of some non-indispensable amino acids experienced a 35% reduction in CVD.

The study, titled, “Patterns of amino acids intake are strongly associated with cardiovascular mortality, independently of the sources of protein,” was a joint project of researchers from Loma Linda University School of Public Health in California and INRA and AgroParisTech in Paris, France.

The study included data from 80,000 participants and is the first of its kind to examine overall patterns of amino acid intake. The intake of amino acids has been studied in the literature, but almost always in isolation. Amino acids come from protein, so the levels of their intake are interconnected, resulting in patterns of intake with likely complex effects.

This study built on a previous groundbreaking study published last year from the same consortium of researchers. That study had reported that proteins from meat were inversely associated with cardiovascular mortality, whereas proteins from nuts and seeds were healthy. Combining those results with the detailed amino acid approach in this new study, the authors could conclude that a part of the effect of the proteins could indeed originate from their composition in amino acids.

Amino acids are building blocks for protein, and the so-called indispensable amino acids — found in foods such as eggs, cheese, and poultry — have long been considered as the most important because they are strictly required for the body to synthesize protein. In contrast, non-indispensable amino acids — in foods like pumpkin seeds, walnuts, lentils and soybeans — are classically deemed of little importance, because they do not limit protein synthesis. However, those amino acids are not just building blocks for protein as they are also involved in many other biological processes with potential impact on vascular health.

Gary Fraser, MB ChB, PhD, from Loma Linda University, and François Mariotti, PhD, from AgroParisTech and INRA, served as co-principal investigators.

“There is a growing interest in protein and amino acids for cardiovascular health, in particular as plant and animal protein sources are concerned,” Fraser said. “Reports regarding amino acids have been sparse and largely fragmented so far.” He added that he and Mariotti have long suspected that some amino acids could protect against heart and vascular disease, whereas others might increase risk.

Mariotti said nutritionists have traditionally defined protein quality as the ability for dietary protein to be used efficiently for making new protein in the body, which is supposed to be mainly influenced by their content in indispensable amino acids; but protein quality should also be considered with regards to cardiovascular health, especially when cardiovascular disease rather than denutrition is the health burden in some countries. Mariotti said these new findings suggest the dietary intake of many indispensable amino acids (such as the well-known BCAA [branched-chain amino acids], lysine and methionine) could indeed be detrimental, whereas that of other non-indispensables amino acids (such as arginine, glycine and aspartate/asparagine) could be beneficial.

The authors insist that these associations seem largely mediated by the specific effects of the amino acids and not by potential confounders such as patterns of protein food intakes and related dietary patterns (such as fat intake). They however recognize that, as in any observational study, we cannot be sure that the associations are not, in part, resulting from residual confounding with other strongly influential dietary and lifestyle factors. The model used was intended to account for all confounders and analyze the extent to which amino acids mediate or explain the relations found.

Fraser said the study leaves other questions open for further investigation, such as identifying the factors other than amino acids that convey the other part of the association between dietary protein type and cardiovascular health. This could be phytochemicals tightly associated with the amino acids found in foods such as nuts and seeds.

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