The United States tops the list as having the most health and fitness clubs in the world with 41,190 health clubs. Brazil follows at 29,525. The U.S. has the largest fitness market, with 1 in 5 Americans being a member of a fitness center or wellness club.
As more people strive towards healthier living, has this boost in diet and exercise succeeded in making us healthier?
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Lifestyle diseases are on the increase
If more people are pursuing health and fitness activities, then lifestyle-related diseases should be decreasing, right? Yet, the statistics show that they are, in fact, increasing.
In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 61% of all deaths and 49% of the global burden of disease were attributable to lifestyle-related diseases. By 2030, global deaths related to these chronic diseases may rise to 70%, and the global burden of disease may increase to 56%.

What are lifestyle diseases?
Lifestyle-related diseases, also called non-communicable diseases (NCD) or chronic diseases, are influenced by poor diet, inactivity, stress, obesity, smoking, excessive use of alcohol, and other substance abuse.
Lifestyle diseases include hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), high cholesterol, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, and cancer.
According to WHO, non-communicable diseases kill 41 million people each year, that’s around 71% of all deaths globally. The statistics paint a grim picture.
- Cardiovascular diseases claim the most lives, resulting in 17.9 million deaths annually.
- Cancer follows CVD, killing 9.3 million people each year.
- In third place, respiratory diseases result in 4.1 million deaths.
- Diabetes has become an epidemic. Between 1980 and 2014, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes rose from 108 million to 422 million, and premature mortality rates among diabetics increased to 5% between 2000 to 2006.
Together, these four groups of diseases account for over 80% of all premature NCD deaths and place an enormous economic strain on healthcare globally.
Many lifestyle diseases can be prevented or minimized by adopting healthier habits like exercising, eating healthier, and reducing stress. So, why has the boost in health and fitness not lowered these troubling statistics?
It seems that despite more people following healthier lifestyles, many more do not. Some are unaware of how lifestyle changes can improve or eliminate their disease while others choose not to make healthier choices, and these people vastly outnumber those that do.
The dark side of health and fitness
Living a healthier life has never been easier yet, ironically, it also has a dark side. Today, we have a number of tools at our disposal to live a healthy life.
- There are numerous tracking apps, pedometers and fitness watches to help us track what we eat and how much we exercise.
- There are more healthcare treatments, from conventional medicine to holistic and alternative health and wellness practices.
- Vegans and people with food allergies can pick from more vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free products on the supermarket shelves.
- Food labels are more detailed, allowing you to see exactly what you’re putting into your body.
- There’s access to free health and fitness content online, including blogs, online exercise programs, and meditation, relaxation and sleep apps.
While thousands of people download fitness apps and invest in wellness programs, it seems our good intentions don’t always make us healthier. In fact, it can trigger some negative health habits.

Detrimental fitness trends
Here are a few trends that may be detrimental to health.
- Fitness tracking and calorie counter apps are great tools to use to achieve health and fitness goals. But on the flip side, it’s increasing stress levels for some who place undue pressure on themselves to meet their daily targets.
- Social media has become a toxic space where perfection is rewarded with “likes” and “hand claps”. Indirectly, it’s created a sense of competition. The quest to present a beautiful body is causing some people to become fixated on looking perfect.
- For decades, there have been athletes who turn to synthetic and dangerous products like steroids to boost performance, and many still do.
- Bizarre health practices have crept in such as bodybuilders who believe drinking breast milk helps build muscle mass or proponents of urotherapy (people who believe drinking their own urine has health benefits despite a lack of scientific proof).
- Diet and exercise has become an obsession with some, to the point where it is harming their health. Severely restrictive diets result in malnutrition and can trigger an eating disorder. Over-exercising can lead to injuries or long-term damage.
- Veganism is all the rage, but this type of diet doesn’t suit everyone. Some people suffer nutrient deficiencies, such as low iron levels resulting in anemia. Others may be allergic to soy, nuts or gluten that limits the range of vegan foods they can eat.
- Living up to a picture-perfect image of health is also impacting mental health. Failing to meet unrealistic health and fitness standards results in depression, anxiety and feelings of failure.

Finding the right balance
Exercise science examines the effect of exercise and diet on the human body. Studies confirm that excessive diet and exercise can be harmful to both your physical and mental wellbeing.
Too much of a good thing can indeed be bad. Moderation tends to achieve better results. Here’s how to live healthier in a balanced way.
1. Consult the professionals
Every person’s body is different. What works for one person may not work for another. That’s why it’s a good idea to consult a registered dietician and fitness trainer.
A dietician can create a customized diet plan taking into account your condition of health, lifestyle, and other factors like food allergies. A fitness trainer will help you reach your fitness goals in a safe and measured way. But be sure to choose one with credentials, like a personal trainer certification or degree in exercise science.

2. Listen to your body
If you’re feeling exhausted, ill, or your body is simply screaming for a break, listen to it. Pushing your body beyond its limit can be dangerous.
Over-exercising can lower the immune system, cause injuries, affect your performance, and result in longer recovery times. Remember, getting enough rest and good quality sleep is also an important part of healthy living.
3. Avoid fads and crash diets
There’s a big difference between a healthy diet and a fad. Does anyone remember the cabbage soup diet? Did it work? In the short term — maybe. In the long term — no. That’s because anything that’s overly restrictive or promises rapid weight loss isn’t sustainable. They may help you drop pounds in a short period but you are likely to regain the weight just as quickly when you stop the diet.
Small and consistent changes to your diet and lifestyle are much more effective. For starters, it’s less daunting than trying to change everything at once. Over time, the little changes become habits that lead to a healthier lifestyle.

4. Lose the guilt
Most diet and exercise fanatics admit that they beat themselves up when they skip a training session or eat “bad” food. They may compensate by following an even more punishing routine to make up for their slip-up.
This is not healthy behavior and may indicate an underlying disorder like anorexia or an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Living healthily doesn’t mean you never eat a cookie again. So, lose the guilt and maintain a balanced approach to health. If, however, you continue to struggle with this, it may be advisable to work with a mental health counselor who can help you overcome the problem.
Achieving your health and fitness goals won’t happen overnight. But with the right mindset, tools, and support, you can reach them. For tips on how to stay on track, download our free 10-Step Guide on How to Slay Your Goals.

For more great health tips, check out this post about how night shift workers can stay healthy.
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