Non-processed food will be increasingly celebrated
Anyone who cares about what they eat realizes that they need to cut down on foods that are industrially produced, use industrially extracted ingredients, and are designed to replace real foods and be “addictive” (ultra-processed food). Much evidence associates these foods with overweight and obesity-related chronic diseases (heart disease, type 2 diabetes, etc), and overall mortality. One clinical trial supports the addiction hypothesis; it demonstrates that people who eat ultra-processed diets as opposed to matched diets based on minimally processed foods, take in many more calories. Non-ultra-processed products may start to be advertised as such.
The slow running movement will continue to grow
For too long, runners at the back of the pack have felt left behind by the larger running community. Few running clubs provided support and many race organizers packed up water stations or ran out of medals before the slowest runners crossed the finish line. Thankfully, this is beginning to change, largely due to the work of slow-running activists like Martinus Evans, founder of the Slow AF Run Club.
A greater focus on preemptive solutions will help us spend less on healthcare
A combination of sustainable lifestyle changes and personalized solutions will re-imagine sick care. Health spending may shift from reactive to proactive care in the coming decades. More movement and healthy food should be the first line of defence. Building on that foundation, health trackers, preventative diagnostics, and coaching/care platforms will help save the healthcare system dollars in the long run.
Low-intensity workouts will have (another) resurgence
People have come around to the fact that shorter workouts still have benefits and that high intensity workouts do not have to be long. More men are taking Pilates, people are walking, and lower intensity steady state exercise (Zone 2 and otherwise), are becoming more the norm. People are starting to understand more of the science behind benefits of lower intensity steady state work, especially for the heart.
Other
• Longevity: People are becoming increasingly aware of how physical activity can help maintain our longevity as we age.
• Recovery: For a long time, it’s been about what type of activity you do, but a new trend is focusing on the importance of your recovery.
• Revamp: Don’t be stuck in your old routines, try some new things and expand your horizons.
• Outdoors: You don’t always have to change the what of your workout, give changing the where a try.
• Walks: The health benefits of walking are becoming increasingly popular, whether it’s to burn some calories, or simply to break up our sedentary time.
• Sleep: Watch out for new trends in an effort to try and improve sleep. The health benefits are enormous, but remember, everyone is different.
• Rowing: A classic cardio workout, but sometimes overlooked for the way it gets muscles throughout the entire body working.
• Mental Health: An increasing trend over the years, remember that exercise has cognitive and emotional benefits as well as physical. Many of your participants might be attending for these reasons.