Physical health: This is how the global fitness business is growing

The global fitness (health and wellness) business, which moved an estimated $121 billion globally in 2022, according to the specialized platform Statista, could grow further in 2025 due to the results of research linking physical exercise with a reduction in Alzheimer's.

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The sector's growth, driven so far by increased interest in health and wellness, the popularity of outdoor activities, and technological innovation, is expected to increase by 2025 for scientific reasons.

It is estimated that the fitness industry in Colombia generates more than US$400 million annually and that in South America it could reach US$7.54 billion by 2029. Profit margins are estimated to be at least 10 to 20%. It is also estimated that the fitness industry has grown between 5 and 10 percent in recent years and is expected to reach a market value of approximately US$434.74 billion by 2028, with an annual growth rate of more than 7.2%.

The fitness industry is a dynamic and constantly evolving sector that encompasses a wide range of activities, products, and services designed to promote physical well-being and healthy lifestyles.

In terms of mental health, exercising between the ages of 45 and 65 may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's, while physical inactivity may harm brain health, according to a scientific article published in the medical journal Alzheimer's and Dementia (Alzheimer & Dementiam), which highlights the need to promote physical activity in middle-aged people.

Physical exercise may prevent the accumulation of beta amyloid, a protein linked to Alzheimer's, according to the conclusions of the publication, which focuses on clinical, experimental, and translational research related to Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias.

The research was conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), supported by the “la Caixa” Foundation, and the Barcelona Brain Research Center (BBRC), part of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation.

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The results were published by Elsevier, a global research firm founded in 1880, and the full article can be found on its website and in other academic databases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia and that approximately 10 million are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease each year.

The organization recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity per week or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity. Regular physical exercise is also part of a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's, because it may help improve brain function and reduce risks.

Although several studies have been conducted on physical activity and Alzheimer's risk reduction, the recent study claims that it may have a direct impact "on the development of brain pathologies related to the disease," according to a statement from ISGLOBAL.

The researchers observed that the benefits of physical activity appear to be related to increasing exercise over time, rather than meeting a specific activity threshold.

The results obtained "reinforce the importance of promoting exercise in middle age as a public health strategy for Alzheimer's prevention," highlights Eider Arenaza-Urquijo, ISGlobal researcher and principal investigator of the study.

“Even those people who performed less physical activity than recommended by the WHO showed greater cortical thickness than sedentary people, suggesting that any level of movement, no matter how small, provides health benefits,” he adds.

It claims that "participants who increased their physical activity to levels recommended by the WHO showed less accumulation of beta amyloid compared to those who maintained a sedentary lifestyle or reduced their physical activity."

Apparently, the greater the physical activity, the greater the reduction in amyloid, the protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, which can hinder neuronal communication if it accumulates in the brain, which is considered the first pathological event of Alzheimer's disease.

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What is and who is affected by the disease?

Alzheimer's is a specific form of dementia, the most common cause being the loss of memory and other cognitive functions due to the degeneration of brain tissue.

Dementia is a general term that describes a severe decline in mental function that interferes with daily life and can be caused by a variety of diseases, including Alzheimer's.

Typically, the first symptom of this disease is the inability to form new memories, but this is often confused with attitudes related to aging and stress.

As the condition progresses, other symptoms begin to appear, such as mental confusion, irritability and aggression, mood swings, language disorders, short-term memory loss, and a tendency to withdraw as the patient's senses deteriorate.

It is difficult to estimate the life expectancy for each person affected by this disease. The average life expectancy is 7 years, but it is estimated that 3% of sufferers live more than 14 years after diagnosis.

Physical inactivity may be responsible for 13% of Alzheimer's cases worldwide, experts say, adding that physical activity could help protect neurons and improve brain health, potentially delaying the onset of Alzheimer's and reducing the risks of cognitive decline and dementia.

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