In the United States, over 64 million people had gym memberships by 2019, yet the country ranked only 34th in life expectancy among high-income nations. This raises an interesting question: Why do Americans, despite their high gym membership rates, live shorter lives and suffer more health problems compared to their peers in countries like Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan?
Dan Buettner’s work on “Blue Zones” provides some valuable insights. These are regions around the world where people live longer, healthier lives, and one of the key factors contributing to this longevity is regular, gentle, and integrated physical activity.
In Blue Zones, excercise is not something done in a gym or as a separate activity but is instead woven into daily life. For example, residents of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica and Ikaria, Greece, often walk to see neighbors, handle daily errands on foot, or engage in physical labor like gardening. These activities are not strenuous but are consistent and part of their daily routines.
Regular walking and movement in Blue Zones have been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases associated with aging, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia. A brisk 30-minute walk per day can significantly decrease the likelihood of these diseases. Additionally, these activities improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance overall mental wellbeing.
Physical activity in Blue Zones also contributes to better sleep quality, lowers the risk of bone fractures, and increases life expectancy. Daily rituals that reduce stress and increase social interaction, such as happy hour with friends or community walking groups, provide emotional support and a sense of purpose.
In the West we seem to have created isolation zones for exercise, often glass and steel boxes full of sweating, breathless individuals. The environments in Blue Zones are designed to encourage physical activity without much thought. Communities are structured to make walking or biking the easy and convenient choice. Small personal changes like using hand tools for yard work or designing homes to promote more physical activity are common.
Several cities in the USA, including Albert Lea, Minnesota, and Fort Worth, Texas, have adopted Blue Zone principles with remarkable results. By providing simple things like more walking and cycling routes, easy access to dog walking spaces, community focussed activities and events with support groups, they have seen incredible changes including:
Exercise does not need to be breathless and exhausting, low-impact exercises like brisk walking, gardening, and simple movements such as getting up and down can significantly enhance your quality of life as you age. Here are some practical steps you can take:
So, is your gym membership making you blue? Well, given that over 60% of gym memberships are never used, costing around $1.3 billion per annum, it may well be.
It’s clear that low-impact exercises and simple movements integrated into daily life can have significant benefits. By reducing the risk of chronic diseases, improving balance and strength, and contributing to cognitive health and mental well-being, these habits can enhance your overall quality of life.
So unless you are a dedicated gym bunny, ditch the unused membership and start building healthier habits that are convenient, safe, and sustainable. Any activity that gets you moving, especially when combined with social interaction, can make a big difference in how you age. So, take that walk, tend to your garden, and enjoy the company of friends while staying active – it’s the Blue Zone way to a healthier, happier life.