Forget Physique. Mental Health Is the Newest, Hottest Fitness Goal

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen burnout and fatigue, many people are eager to take a deep breath and find a more balanced approach to life—at home, at the office, and at the gym. There are signs that people are now chasing the mental-health benefits of exercise even more than the physical ones. According to a 2022 trends report from online fitness-class scheduling platform Mindbody, the top two reasons that Americans work out are now to reduce stress and feel better mentally. That’s a striking change from even the recent pre-pandemic past; in 2019, controlling weight and looking better were top motivators for many exercisers, according to Mindbody’s report from that year. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Similar trends are appearing in scientific literature, says Genevieve Dunton, chief of health behavior research at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. “People are reporting slightly different motives for wanting to be active,” compared to before the pandemic, Dunton says. “The reasons are certainly more about stress reduction, anxiety release, and improved sleep.” The link between physical activity and mental wellness is well established. People have talked about the mood-boosting “runner’s high” for at least half a century, and countless studies—including one conducted by Dunton during the pandemic—confirm that exercise can improve mental health...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized COVID-19 Exercise & Fitness healthscienceclimate Source Type: news